India is set to strengthen its position as a trusted global partner in electronics manufacturing and advanced technology, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while attending the groundbreaking ceremony of the Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam.
The ambitious project, backed by an estimated investment of $15 billion, is being developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, Adani ConneX, and Airtel Nxtra. It will feature a 1 GW hyperscale AI data centre, with the Andhra Pradesh government allocating nearly 600 acres of land across Turluvada, Rambilli and Adavivaram. The ceremony was also attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, along with senior ministers and industry leaders.
Highlighting India’s rapid progress, Vaishnaw noted that the country has already established itself as a global IT services leader and is now advancing strongly in electronics manufacturing. Mobile phones have emerged as one of India’s top export items, while nearly half of the domestic electronics demand is now met through local production. He stressed that initiatives like the Semiconductor Mission are driving India towards becoming a global hub in critical sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and space technology.
Calling the Visakhapatnam project transformative, the minister said the city is poised to evolve into “AI Patnam,” supported by world-class infrastructure and global investments. The upcoming AI hub is expected to drive innovation across sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, logistics and aerospace, while also strengthening India’s digital backbone.
Industry leaders echoed similar optimism. Google Cloud’s global infrastructure leadership emphasised that the AI Hub will play a crucial role in India’s long-term digital growth and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Meanwhile, Adani Group representatives described the hyperscale data centre as a milestone that will position Visakhapatnam as a key digital gateway connecting global data routes.
In addition, the project will benefit from enhanced connectivity through subsea cables linking Visakhapatnam to major international regions, including Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the United States, further integrating India into the global digital economy.
