AP–NSW Partnership Push: Lokesh’s Day 3 in Australia unlocks momentum on seafood trade, AI agri-tech, and urban innovation

Andhra Pradesh Minister for HRD, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh, advanced a multi-sector collaboration agenda on Day 3 of his Australia tour with focused engagements across the seafood industry, city development, university-driven agri-tech, and government-to-government innovation partnerships.

The day’s outcomes include new avenues for trade missions linking AP exporters with global buyers, pathways to AI-enabled agricultural hubs in collaboration with Western Sydney University, knowledge-sharing on city transformation with Parramatta, and an invitation to New South Wales to send a business delegation to the Visakhapatnam Partnership Summit 2025 on 14–15 November to deepen bilateral investment flows.

Meeting Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) leaders in Parramatta, Lokesh called for structured trade missions and networking platforms to connect Andhra Pradesh’s seafood exporters with buyers in Australia and worldwide, citing AP’s leadership in India’s seafood exports and the state’s scale advantages.

He urged joint initiatives to upgrade processing quality, extend shelf life, and raise compliance standards via modern cold-chain, packaging, and biosecurity practices that align with global market requirements.

The Minister also proposed collaboration on sustainable aquaculture, environmental resilience, and culinary tourism that showcases Andhra Pradesh seafood cuisine to new international audiences.

Lokesh met Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter, commending the city’s push to attract investment, expand public transport, and create green civic spaces as a model for human-centric, business-friendly city growth.

During a visit to Western Sydney University, Lokesh proposed AI-enabled Agricultural Innovation Hubs in Andhra Pradesh to deliver precision farming, climate-resilient crops, and smart irrigation solutions in partnership with Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University. He sought joint capacity-building for farmers and agri-professionals, with programs on sustainable water management and soil health, and encouraged research collaborations that translate cutting-edge science into field-ready tools. University leaders outlined WSU’s strengths in industry-integrated programs and sustainability impact, aligning with Andhra Pradesh’s modernization goals in agriculture and rural livelihoods.

In a meeting with New South Wales leadership, Lokesh proposed an Andhra Pradesh–NSW Innovation & Industry Partnership spanning advanced manufacturing, startups, green technology, meditech, agritech, logistics, and AI-enabled infrastructure. He invited NSW to send a minister-led business delegation to the Visakhapatnam Partnership Summit 2025, and suggested linking NSW innovation clusters with Andhra Pradesh’s emerging hubs in Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Anantapur, supported by university-led R&D and joint incubation programs.