The Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation (GFST), in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB), hosted the East Coast Maritime & Logistics Summit 2025 on 2–3 September 2025 at Novotel Varun Beach, Visakhapatnam. The event brought together global leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators to co-develop a 5-Year Action Plan (2025–2030) aimed at making Andhra Pradesh the logistics gateway of the East Coast and a benchmark for climate-resilient, AI-driven infrastructure governance
Transforming India’s East Coast through Smart Infrastructure
Andhra Pradesh, with its 1,053 km coastline, six operational ports, and three upcoming greenfield ports, stands at the forefront of India’s maritime revolution. With Rs. 20,000 crore investments in multimodal corridors, Rs. 26,000 crore shipbuilding clusters, and dedicated logistics parks in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Anantapur, the state aims to reduce logistics costs from 15.7% to 7–8% of GSDP, aligning with national goals under PM Gati Shakti and NLP 2022
Visionary Leadership and Digital Transformation
Guided by the vision of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the conclave emphasizes “From Ease of Doing Business to Speed of Doing Business.” Andhra Pradesh is integrating AI, IoT, Blockchain, GIS, and Drone Intelligence to create predictive, adaptive, and transparent logistics systems. The initiative supports the Swarna Andhra Vision 2047, aligning with the national mission of Viksit Bharat @2047 to enable $2 trillion economic momentum
Strategic Pillars and Innovation Themes
The conclave outlined five strategic focus areas that define Andhra Pradesh’s logistics transformation:
Port-led Growth & Maritime Excellence: Developing AP as the Eastern Gateway of India with world-class smart ports.
Multimodal Integration: Strengthening VCIC/CBIC corridors and air cargo ecosystems.
Digital Logistics 4.0: Leveraging AI, IoT, and automation for real-time governance and predictive planning.
Green and Sustainable Logistics: Aligning with ESG and Net Zero goals through clean energy corridors.
Skill, Finance & Policy Enablement: Building inclusive workforce models through MSMEs and SHGs
A Hub for Collaboration and Investment
The summit served as a strategic platform for ports, shipping lines, 3PLs, exporters, and tech startups, connecting stakeholders across India and ASEAN. Sessions on smart logistics, air cargo, pharma chains, and maritime innovation created actionable pathways for investment, sustainability, and employment generation
Aligning with Global and National Missions
Supported by PM Gati Shakti, Maritime India Vision 2030, and National Logistics Policy 2022, the conclave strengthens Andhra Pradesh’s role as a logistics and maritime anchor for India’s trillion-dollar economy. With real-time dashboards and data-driven governance, GFST ensures accountability, scalability, and impact across all infrastructure and policy initiatives
