Chairman of the $3.5 billion airports‑to‑infrastructure GMR Group, Rao said such partnerships would be pivotal to India and Visakhapatnam’s rise.
One of India Inc’s leading voices has called for deeper alumni involvement to strengthen entrepreneurship and accelerate India’s emergence as a global economic powerhouse. Speaking at Andhra University’s annual alumni meet in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, GM Rao, Chairman of the $3.5 billion GMR Group, said such engagement would play a pivotal role in shaping the city’s rise as the country’s next major economic and technology hub.
“With significant investments pouring in—Google’s $15 billion data centre, Reliance and Meta’s world‑class data‑centre ecosystem, and GMR’s Bhogapuram International Airport—Vizag is poised to become India’s next economic and tech hub, positioning itself as the ‘Gateway of the East’,” Rao said.
“These developments not only transform the region but also create a fertile ground for Andhra University to evolve into a global institution, leveraging the city’s growth, innovation and talent pool to become a hub for academic excellence and research.”
A mechanical engineer by training, Rao is also the Founder‑Chairman of the Andhra University Alumni Association, whose 100,000‑strong membership is spread across the world. Reflecting on the 99‑year‑old university’s evolution into a major seat of learning, he said that “the alumni are the living extension of this institution”. Every achievement in their professional lives, he noted, is “a reflection of the foundation laid here”.
“If we are proud to say we belong to Andhra University, then we must also be prepared to ask: what does Andhra University receive back from us?” he said.
Rao emphasised that gratitude to one’s alma mater must go beyond sentiment. “Gratitude is meaningful only when it translates into action,” he said, urging alumni in India and overseas to move from being well‑wishers to becoming active contributors to the university’s next phase of growth.
Alumni Action Agenda
Rao outlined five ways in which alumni could meaningfully give back to the institution. He said they could mentor at least one student, support one idea or startup, create opportunities for current students through job interviews or internships, contribute through time, talent or resources, and carry the university’s brand by living with integrity, professionalism and social consciousness in their careers.
“If thousands of alumni across the world take just these small but concrete steps—mentor one student, support one idea, open one door, contribute in their own way, and carry the brand with pride—the collective impact will be extraordinary,” he said. “We will not just help individual careers; we will strengthen families, uplift communities and quietly contribute to the progress of our state and our nation.”
As Andhra University enters its next century, Rao said alumni must evolve from being “former students” to “co‑creators” of the institution’s future, helping shape its next chapter of academic and societal relevance.
Sudha Murty, Rajya Sabha MP, Founder‑Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation and Chairperson of the Murty Trust, was the chief guest at the event.