Andhra Govt. Australia Signs 4 MoUs on Clean Energy, Manufacturing, Education, Skills

Andhra Pradesh and Australia signed four MoUs in Amaravati on Sunday, 2nd August 2026, covering clean energy, advanced manufacturing, inclusive education, student mental health and skill development. The agreements were signed in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Education, IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh and Australia's Assistant Minister for International Education, Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill, marking an expansion of bilateral cooperation between the state and Australian institutions.

First MoU: Solar Manufacturing Centre of Excellence

The Andhra Pradesh government's Centre of Excellence for Energy Transition (CoEET), IIT Tirupati and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, will jointly set up a Centre of Excellence for Solar Manufacturing at IIT Tirupati. The centre will focus on advanced solar photovoltaic manufacturing, panel recycling, circular economy practices, research, faculty development and specialised training, aiming to position Andhra Pradesh as a solar manufacturing hub. UNSW will support curriculum development and training covering solar cell manufacturing, device physics, reliability engineering, recycling, ingot manufacturing and wafering technologies.

Second MoU: Inclusive Education for Neurodiverse Learners

A second MoU signed between UNSW, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV) and Samagra Shiksha, Andhra Pradesh, aims to strengthen inclusive education by enhancing teachers' capacity to educate children with autism and other neurodiverse learning needs through specialised training, professional development and teaching resources.

Third MoU: Student Mental Health Support

Under the third agreement, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) and Australia's Rebound will jointly implement a technology-enabled pilot project to provide confidential mental health resources, wellness assessment tools and virtual counselling services for students in selected higher educational institutions. The pilot programme will be implemented free of cost.

Fourth MoU: Skill Development and Workforce Training

The fourth MoU, signed between the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Australia's Dynamic Learning Services (DLS), seeks to strengthen vocational education, workforce development, industry-aligned training, globally recognised professional certifications and international employment pathways.

Background of the Andhra Govt. Australia Partnership

Minister Nara Lokesh said the agreements followed his recent visit to Australia, where he held discussions with universities, research institutions, industry leaders and government representatives, showcasing Andhra Pradesh's investment-friendly ecosystem. Earlier, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met the visiting Australian delegation led by Julian Hill, highlighting the state's economic transformation and investment opportunities, and felicitated the minister with a traditional shawl, Araku Coffee and a commemorative memento.