Overview
- Nara Lokesh met representatives of the Giredmet Institute in Moscow and asked the institute to study setting up deep processing and rare‑earth refining hubs in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam.
- He proposed a neodymium‑iron‑boron magnet production centre in Nellore and requested help deploying technologies to recover strategic metals from industrial waste and mining tailings.
- The meetings were framed as feasibility and partnership talks rather than signed deals, with no binding contracts reported after the outreach.
- Separately, Lokesh urged RMM Pharma to speed work on a Rs.200 crore Visakhapatnam drug plant that the company says is progressing and aims for commercial production by March 2027.
- Officials say the push builds on Andhra Pradesh’s mineral resources, deep‑water ports and industrial ambitions and could boost jobs and export links if technical partnerships move from study to investment.