Lokesh to Amar Raja: Andhra Owes You an Apology

In a significant gesture aimed at rebuilding industry confidence, Andhra Pradesh IT, Electronics and Education Minister Nara Lokesh has said the state "owes an apology" to Amara Raja Group Chairman Jay Galla for the challenges the company faced during the previous YSRCP government. His emotional message, shared on social media platform X , has drawn attention across political and business circles, signalling the state's renewed efforts to strengthen ties with investors.

The remarks came after Amara Raja inaugurated its Customer Qualification Plant (CQP) at Divitipalli in Telangana's Mahabubnagar district , a key milestone in the company's ambitious Giga Corridor for advanced battery manufacturing. Congratulating the company on the new facility, Lokesh began his post by saying, " Andhra Pradesh owes you an apology. "

Calling Amara Raja one of Andhra Pradesh's finest industrial success stories, Lokesh said the company has spent over four decades building world-class manufacturing facilities , generating thousands of jobs and taking the name of Chittoor district to global markets. He described the group as more than just a manufacturing company, saying it has become a symbol of entrepreneurship and industrial excellence originating from Andhra Pradesh.

Without directly naming specific incidents, Lokesh said the treatment the company received under the previous government should never have happened. He noted that entrepreneurs who choose to invest in their home state deserve encouragement rather than uncertainty, adding that it was painful to see an Andhra Pradesh-born company expand beyond the state's borders. He reaffirmed that the present government is committed to restoring investor confidence , ensuring policy stability and making Andhra Pradesh a preferred destination for industries and large-scale investments.

Inviting Jay Galla to undertake future expansion in the state, Lokesh wrote that " our doors, and our hearts, will always remain open for you ," expressing hope that the next chapter of Amara Raja's growth would once again be written in its home state.

The backdrop to the minister's remarks lies in the prolonged disputes between Amara Raja and the previous state administration over environmental compliance, pollution control notices, land-related issues and regulatory actions . The company subsequently shifted its flagship lithium-ion Gigafactory project to Telangana, where it is developing a large-scale battery manufacturing ecosystem. The newly commissioned Customer Qualification Plant forms an integral part of that project, enabling battery cell testing and validation before commercial production.

The development also comes at a time when both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are competing to attract investments in electric vehicles, battery manufacturing and clean energy technologies . With India pushing to reduce import dependence for advanced battery cells under its broader manufacturing and energy transition goals, the sector has emerged as one of the country's fastest-growing industrial segments.

Industry observers see Lokesh's public outreach as both a symbolic and strategic move, reflecting the Andhra Pradesh government's attempt to rebuild trust with the private sector after a change in administration. The statement is expected to reinforce the state's message that it is committed to a stable, industry-friendly policy environment while seeking to attract major investments in advanced manufacturing and high-technology sectors.