Vasu Potnuru Visakhapatnam

Thecoalition government has made elaborate arrangements to host the prestigious 31st CII Partnership Summit-2026 in Visakhapatnam on a grand scale.

At a time when the city is considered a major investment destination and the financial powerhouse of Andhra Pradesh, the summit adds to the brimming investments the state has already attracted.

District In-charge Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy mentioned that the state is witnessing an unprecedented inflow of investments under the focused initiatives of IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. He stated that projects involving investments of nearly Rs.20 lakh crore had been secured so far, with works worth approximately Rs.17 lakh crore already in progress. He further revealed that fresh Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth another Rs 11 lakh crore are expected to be signed during the two-day summit. With these agreements, the total investment commitments are projected to reach Rs.31 lakh crore, potentially creating employment opportunities for nearly 25 lakh youth.

The summit will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will chair the proceedings. The Vice-President will participate in the concluding ceremony on the final day and deliver a special message.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is also actively participating in various review meetings to ensure the successful conduct of the international event.

More than 58 representatives and diplomats from foreign governments are expected to participate in the summit. Over 400 Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings have also been scheduled, providing an important platform for investors, industrialists and international business representatives to explore partnerships and investment opportunities.

Meanwhile, the city police have put in place comprehensive security arrangements for the smooth and incident-free conduct of the international summit.

City Police Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi, along with senior police officials, briefed the officers and personnel deployed for summit security.

Around 2,700 police personnel, including senior officers, 35 ACPs, 103 Circle Inspectors, 250 Sub-Inspectors and nearly 1,800 ASIs, Head Constables, Police Constables and Home Guards, have been mobilised for security duties.

The conference venue and other strategically important locations across the city are being continuously monitored through the Command and Control Centre. Advanced surveillance systems, including drones, CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras and other technological equipment, have been installed to strengthen security.

To ensure hassle-free transportation and timely arrival of delegates at the summit venue, a dedicated mobile application has been developed.

The initiative is aimed at coordinating the movement of delegates representing different organisations and preventing delays.

As part of preventive security measures, city police personnel are conducting continuous inspections of hotels, lodges, resorts and guesthouses falling under all police station limits.

Accommodation facilities where delegates are staying are also being thoroughly checked by sniffer dog squads and bomb detection teams. With extensive administrative coordination, international participation and multi-layered security arrangements, Visakhapatnam is gearing up to host one of the state’s most significant investment-focused events scheduled for Thursday and Friday.