Lokesh courts Korean tech giants for electronics, semiconductor investments in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh stepped up the State’s investment outreach in South Korea on Tuesday (July 7, 2026)
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, Information Technology and Electronics Nara Lokesh stepped up the State’s investment outreach in South Korea on Tuesday (July 7, 2026), holding a series of meetings with leading technology and electronics companies to draw investment in electric vehicles, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. In talks with senior executives of Hyundai Mobis, Mr. Lokesh invited the automotive technology company to set up an EV semiconductor hub in Andhra Pradesh, along with an EV components and battery systems manufacturing unit near Tirupati or Anantapur. He also proposed a research and engineering centre in Visakhapatnam and a Centre of Excellence with IIT Tirupati.
The Minister sought the company’s support for research in autonomous driving, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and smart manufacturing, and urged it to partner the State in building Anantapur into a major automobile manufacturing hub. Hyundai Mobis executives said the company would study the proposals before taking a decision on future investments. Lokesh also met APACT Chief Executive Officer Seong Dong Lee to discuss strengthening Andhra Pradesh’s semiconductor ecosystem. He asked APACT to work with the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation to train youth in semiconductor assembly, packaging and testing (OSAT), and to encourage other global OSAT players, including Hana Micron, to consider investing in the State.
Mr. Lee said the company’s Visakhapatnam OSAT project, being built with ASIP Technologies at an investment of ₹468 crore, would make 96 million semiconductor devices a year, and construction was expected to start shortly. In another meeting, Mr. Lokesh urged LG Electronics to set up an engineering centre or Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Visakhapatnam and expand its India operations. He also proposed a component manufacturing ecosystem around Sri City, and sought collaboration in IoT and robotics research, besides a commercial chiller manufacturing unit in the State. LG Electronics India CEO Hong Ju Jeon said the company was investing ₹5,000 crore in its third Indian manufacturing plant, at Sri City, where commercial production is expected to begin by the end of the year.
The plant is expected to create about 1,500 jobs and make air-conditioner compressors, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners. He said LG would study the Andhra Pradesh government’s latest proposals.
The BriefWire