Visakhapatnam is hosting the 31st edition of the CII Partnership Summit 2026 on November 12–13, with global policymakers, international delegates, business leaders and investors coming together to discuss emerging opportunities in trade, technology and economic cooperation.
Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and hosted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the summit is being held under the theme “Navigating the New World Order: Trade | Technology | Trust | Thought Leadership”.
The CII Partnership Summit 2026 provides a platform for discussions on strengthening global partnerships, attracting investments and positioning India as a competitive destination for global manufacturing and innovation.
The inaugural session of the CII Partnership Summit 2026 was attended by Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Konidala Pawan Kalyan.
The session also featured industry leaders, including Founder & CEO of Sagar Defence, Capt. Nikunj Parashar, and President of CII and Managing Director & CEO of Tata Chemicals Limited, R. Mukundan.
NICDC Pavilion Showcases Andhra Pradesh’s ₹31,360 Crore Investment Potential
One of the key highlights of the CII Partnership Summit 2026 was the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) pavilion, which showcased Andhra Pradesh’s industrial infrastructure, investment opportunities and upcoming Greenfield Industrial Smart Cities.
Key displays included the development of Greenfield Industrial Smart Cities, BHAVYA (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana), Industrial Corridor Land Platform (ICLP), Koyla Shakti, a Smart Coal Analytics Dashboard, and platforms enabling investors to discover and compare verified industrial land opportunities across India.
The NICDC pavilion also featured a 360-degree Virtual Reality (VR) Tour, providing visitors with an immersive overview of the corporation’s industrial corridor projects.
During the interaction, Piyush Goyal highlighted the BHAVYA scheme, while N. Chandrababu Naidu drew attention to Orvakal Drone City and its potential to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s emerging aerospace and drone manufacturing ecosystem.
Krishnapatnam, Orvakal and Kopparthy: Three Industrial Nodes in Andhra Pradesh
The NICDC pavilion at the CII Partnership Summit 2026 also showcased the combined industrial development potential of the three Greenfield Industrial Smart City nodes in Andhra Pradesh.
The three nodes together cover a project area of 7,717 acres, with an estimated investment potential of ₹31,360 crore and employment potential of 2 lakh jobs.
The three industrial nodes are being developed under different industrial corridors and are envisaged as integrated industrial ecosystems supported by world-class infrastructure and connectivity.
Their development aims to facilitate large-scale investments, strengthen manufacturing capabilities, generate employment and accelerate industrial growth across Andhra Pradesh.
Japan Highlights Investment Opportunities in Andhra Pradesh
The India-Japan economic partnership and opportunities for industrial collaboration also featured prominently at the CII Partnership Summit 2026.
Ambassador of Japan to India, Keiichi Ono, highlighted the growing economic relationship between the two countries. He noted that 31 Japanese companies across three cities in Andhra Pradesh have generated over 8,000 local jobs.
He also emphasised opportunities for collaboration in steel, pharmaceuticals, clean energy and semiconductors.
CEO & MD of NICDC, Rajat Kumar Saini, IAS, delivered the opening remarks, outlining five key areas for deeper cooperation:
- Manufacturing and industrial corridor development.
- Resilient supply chains.
- Advanced technologies.
- Sustainable industrial development.
- MSME partnerships and skill development.
NICDC Shares Progress of Three Industrial Smart City Projects
During the CII Partnership Summit 2026, Rajat Kumar Saini also apprised dignitaries of the development progress of the three industrial nodes in Andhra Pradesh.
The progress updates were as follows:
- Krishnapatnam: More than 50% completion.
- Orvakal: Approximately 30% completion.
- Kopparthy: Around 12% completion.
The updates highlighted the progress of infrastructure development across the three projects and NICDC’s continued efforts towards creating investment-ready industrial destinations in the State.
The development of these industrial nodes is expected to support manufacturing investments, improve industrial infrastructure and strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s position in India’s industrial growth landscape.
Japanese Companies Show Interest in Expanding Operations in India
The CII Partnership Summit 2026 also featured discussions on opportunities for Japanese companies to expand their operations in India and Andhra Pradesh.
Director General of JETRO Chennai, Mr. Kiyotaka Doho, highlighted the growing interest among Japanese companies in India and Andhra Pradesh.
He noted that over 80% of surveyed companies were planning to expand their operations.
President & MD of Isuzu Motors India, Rajesh Mittal, underscored the importance of Japanese manufacturing practices, quality standards, skill development and local supplier ecosystems.
Presentations by Proterial India and Nittan India further showcased opportunities for industrial collaboration between Indian and Japanese businesses.
NICDC Focuses on Strengthening India’s Manufacturing Ecosystem
Through the development of Greenfield Industrial Smart Cities across various industrial corridors, NICDC is working towards strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem, enhancing logistics efficiency and creating investment-ready industrial destinations.
Its initiatives aim to attract domestic and international investments, generate employment and facilitate the integration of Indian industries with global value chains.
NICDC‘s participation in the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026 provided an opportunity to showcase the progress of its industrial corridor projects, engage with global stakeholders and highlight investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh.
