Hyderabad: AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s son and Telugu Desam leader Nara Lokesh on Tuesday met several investors and industrialists from the IT, ITeS and electronic-manufacturing sectors during his visit to the United States.

Mr Lokesh met Krishna Yarlagadda, president of Imagination, a firm which makes processors. Mr Yarlagadda assured the TD leader that his company will look into the possibility of setting up a development centre in Visakhapatnam.

Mr Lokesh said “I met US department of commerce assistant secretary Arun Kumar, a top ranking government official belonging to the Indian diaspora. We spoke at length on how to successfully create Smart AP through the Smart City project, more so in the context of Vizag that will be developed into a Smart City with the US as the lead partner. I explained the immense potential our state presents as an investment destination and requested his support in making AP a manufacturing hub. He responded positively and assured me of extending his cooperation.”

Mr Lokesh also met Rao Mulpuri, CEO of View, a company that manufactures dynamic glass, and Randhir Thakur, executive vice-president at Applied Materials, Inc., a global firm that provides engineering solutions for the semi-conductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic (PV) industries. The duo also promised their support.

BluePointe Capital Management hosted a well-attended event on the Prysm Campus in Milpitas, in which 90 investors from IT, ITeS and electronic-manufacturing sectors took part. “After 15 hours, six meetings and several productive conversations, I felt the day was fruitful and worth the time spent. I am raring to go again tomorrow. I hope the trend continues,” said Mr Lokesh.