Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh remained undeterred by an unexpected security threat ahead of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), as the state made a significant mark at the prestigious event. The state's participation in SPIEF turned into a major success story, drawing considerable attention from Russian investors, largely owing to Lokesh's decisive actions.
According to a senior official, the Andhra Pradesh delegation, led by Lokesh, learned that Ukraine had launched drone attacks targeting strategic locations around the Russian city. While traveling from Moscow to board a flight to St. Petersburg on June 3, the delegation was informed by the embassy that several drones had struck oil storage facilities and military-linked installations in and around St. Petersburg. These attacks triggered explosions and raised concerns among international participants scheduled to attend Russia's flagship economic forum.
The attacks were widely perceived as an attempt to disrupt the summit and discourage foreign delegations and investors from participating. Security advisories were issued, and uncertainty prevailed among many international delegates. Despite the alarming situation, Lokesh resolved to proceed with the visit to honor the state's commitments to investors and industry leaders. "Cancellation of scheduled meetings at the last minute will send the wrong signal and affect Andhra Pradesh's credibility among global investors. We shall go ahead, come what may," Lokesh told the delegation members.
Subsequently, officials held consultations with the Indian diplomatic mission, which also concurred with Lokesh's decision. The delegation continued its journey despite the risks. This bold decision paid off handsomely. "Andhra Pradesh emerged as one of the most visible Indian participants at SPIEF and was the only Indian state delegation represented at the prestigious forum. Over the past three days, Lokesh held extensive discussions with Russian industrial groups, technology firms, logistics operators, and manufacturing companies, showcasing Andhra Pradesh's strengths in ports, infrastructure, chemicals, energy, electronics, and emerging technologies," said MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, who is also part of the state delegation, as quoted by TOI.
Several companies expressed keen interest in exploring investment opportunities in the state, firmly placing Andhra Pradesh on the radar of Russian investors. A senior official noted that the investor response exceeded expectations and reflected growing confidence in the state's economic vision and business-friendly policies.
On Saturday, Lokesh visited Sber City in Moscow, one of Russia's most advanced innovation ecosystems. He inspected advanced AI-enabled banking technologies, including intelligent diagnostic and customer service systems integrated into next-generation ATMs. Sber representatives presented the institution's cutting-edge work in research and development, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence services, digital healthcare, cybersecurity solutions, and digital education platforms. Impressed by the scale of innovation, Lokesh remarked that Sber City serves as a bridge to the technologies of the future and offers valuable insights for Andhra Pradesh's own digital transformation journey.
