Google Cloud Launches
$15bn Power Intensive AI Center at Vizag
Ø Union Minister Participates in Ground
Breaking Ceremony of Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam
Ø Visakhapatnam Set to Become “AI Patnam”, Driving India’s AI and Data Revolution
·
Ashwini Vaishnaw said India is poised to become
a trusted global value chain and supply chain partner in electronic manufacturing,
supported by strong policy initiatives and technological ambitions.
·
The Union Minister spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Google
Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam, alongside N. Chandrababu Naidu.
·
The project involves an estimated USD 15 billion investment, developed
with Google Cloud, AdaniConneX and Airtel Nxtra, including a 1 GW hyperscale AI data centre.
·
The Andhra Pradesh government has allocated around 600 acres for the
project, positioning Visakhapatnam as an emerging “AI Patnam”
(AI City).
·
The Minister highlighted India’s progress in mobile manufacturing, semiconductor
production and electronics exports, calling for global firms to manufacture
servers, GPUs and chips in India.
·
He identified Semiconductors, Quantum, Space and Artificial Intelligence
as strategic sectors where India seeks global leadership.
·
The AI hub is expected to accelerate digital transformation in education,
healthcare, aerospace, logistics and agriculture.
·
Google is also laying three subsea cables from Visakhapatnam to connect
India to global digital routes spanning Australia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East
and the United States.
·
Industry leaders said the project will strengthen India’s AI ecosystem,
digital infrastructure and Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, while positioning Visakhapatnam
as a major new digital gateway.
[ABS New Service/29.04.2026]
On 28 April, 2026 Union Minister for Electronics
& Information Technology, Railways and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini
Vaishnaw, said that India is poised to emerge as major
trusted value chain and supply chain partner to the world in electronic manufacturing,
driven by strong policy support and visionary leadership.
He was addressing the gathering after
the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam in the
presence of Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, along with several
Union Ministers, State Ministers, and industry leaders.
The project, with an estimated investment
of USD 15 billion, is being developed in partnership with Adani ConneX and Airtel Nxtra, and will
include a 1 GW hyperscale AI data centre in Visakhapatnam. The Government of Andhra
Pradesh has allocated around 600 acres of land in Turluvada, Rambilli and Adavivaram areas for
the project.
India’s Rise in Electronics
& Manufacturing:
Ashwini Vaishnaw
highlighted that India has already emerged as a leader in IT services and is now
rapidly advancing in electronics manufacturing.
The Minister lauded the vision
of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, emphasizing the need for the country to emerge as
a global hub in key technology sectors such as Semiconductors, Quantum, Space, and
Artificial intelligence.
He noted that India has made
significant strides in mobile manufacturing, with mobile phones becoming one of
the country’s top export items. Nearly 50% of domestic electronic demand is now
being met through local production. Under the Semiconductor Mission, commercial
production has already begun in India.
The Minister emphasized that
India is becoming a trusted partner in semiconductor and electronics production
and called upon global technology companies, including Google, to manufacture their
servers, GPUs and chips within the country.
Visakhapatnam emerging
as AI Hub:
Describing the project as transformative,
the Minister said that Visakhapatnam will evolve into AI Patnam(AI City), driven by cutting-edge
infrastructure and global investments.
He appreciated the vision of
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in developing IT ecosystems and said the new AI
data centre will bring revolutionary changes across sectors such as education, healthcare,
aerospace, logistics and agriculture.
He also thanked Google for laying
three subsea cables from Visakhapatnam, connecting global digital routes via Australia,
the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the United States.
Industry Leaders
Highlight Strategic Importance Google Cloud Global Infrastructure Vice President Bikash Koley said that the AI Hub will serve as a
foundation for Viksit Bharat 2047 and play a critical role in India’s digital transformation
and global AI economy.
Adani Group Chairman Jeet Adani
said that the 1 GW hyperscale AI data centre marks a major milestone in India’s
AI journey and will position Visakhapatnam as a new digital gateway for India.
The event was attended by Union
Ministers, senior State Ministers, Members of Parliament, industry leaders, and
representatives from Google, Adani Group, Airtel Nxtra
and other organizations.