Shilpa Ranipeta

​​Lalitha Nataraj, chief executive officer of NPCI BHIM Services Ltd (NBSL), said the company is targeting largely untapped user segments and use

Bengaluru's Airbound is partnering with Andhra Pradesh Drone Corporation to launch a massive drone delivery network in the Amaravati Capital Region. Aiming for 10,000 daily flights within a year, the initiative will initially serve Guntur, then expand to Amaravati and Vijayawada. This ambitious project promises to revolutionize logistics for healthcare, goods, and e-commerce, potentially slashing delivery costs significantly.

Godrej Consumer Products is aggressively expanding its pet food brand, Ninja, aiming for a Rs 500 crore valuation within three years. After a successful pilot in Tamil Nadu, the brand is launching in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, with pan-India plans by FY28.

Hyderabad has emerged as India's priciest office market for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), commanding a 15% premium. The city leads the GCC-CPRI index, attracting significant investments across various sectors. This surge in demand, coupled with limited Grade A supply, is driving up rental costs, making Hyderabad a prime destination for multinational corporations establishing or expanding their operations.

Telangana is charting a new course to elevate Hyderabad into a global drug discovery hub. The state is fostering an integrated ecosystem by creating shared infrastructure and funding for startups and researchers. This ambitious plan aims to accelerate the development of next-generation therapies, including cell and gene therapies, by leveraging existing strengths and forging new partnerships, positioning Hyderabad for significant advancements in pharmaceutical innovation.

AI chip startup OXMIQ, founded by former Intel executive Raja Koduri, has secured $35 million in Series A funding. The company aims to democratize AI chip development by licensing its GPU architecture, OxCore, allowing businesses and governments to create custom AI processors. This move seeks to reduce the high cost of AI compute, particularly for emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia, fostering wider AI adoption.

Telangana is gearing up to elevate Hyderabad's pharmaceutical standing beyond manufacturing. The state is fostering an integrated ecosystem for drug discovery and development, bringing together industry, research, startups, and investors. This strategic move aims to position Telangana as a hub for next-generation therapies, leveraging its existing strength as a global vaccine production leader.

Amaravati is set to become a major hub for quantum computing in India, with IBM announcing plans to install one of its advanced quantum systems there by September 2026. This move, driven by India's strong talent pool, aims to unlock significant commercial advantages across various sectors. The initiative aligns with Andhra Pradesh's vision to establish itself as a leading quantum technology center, fostering research and innovation.

Speaking at an event in the US, Krishna said quantum computing is approaching an inflection point and could deliver "massive commercial advantage" within the next two to three years across industries including pharmaceuticals, materials science, financial services, logistics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. "We have put in one quantum computer that is going to go into Amaravati, and that is an agreement with the state there and with the national government," Krishna said,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Andhra Pradesh's fourth international airport at Bhogapuram on August 1. Built by GMR Group at a cost of Rs 4,750 crore, the greenfield airport is expected to enhance connectivity, ease pressure on Visakhapatnam Airport, and boost tourism, trade, investment and employment across North Andhra.