Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Lokesh meets Tony Blair, seeks support in implementing education reforms
Minister for IT and Electronics and Human Resources Development, Nara Lokesh has met former British Prime Minister and founder of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), Tony Blair, in New Delhi on Thursday (June 19, 2025).
This is their second meeting in just about a year, the first being in July last year in Mumbai, when Mr. Blair expressed his willingness to help the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government in adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies in the education sector and public service delivery through the TBI, for which the two sides had signed an agreement in December 2024.
As per the agreement, the TBI has sent a team that is enabling the Andhra Pradesh Government to implement a slew of reforms in higher education, and helping it in the establishment of a Global Institute for Good Governance (GiGG).
Mr. Blair and Mr. Lokesh took stock of the progress made by the A.P. Government on those fronts, and discussed collaboration in areas like skill development and skill census among others issues.
Blair urged to join advisory board of GiGG
On the occasion, Mr. Lokesh invited Mr. Blair to join the advisory board of GiGG. Besides, an agreement has been signed between the A.P. Government and TBI for cooperation in skill training and the establishment of GiGG.
Mr. Blair said the TBI is going to take part in the upcoming Conclave of State Education Ministers to be held in Visakhapatnam in August.
The Andhra Pradesh Government Secretary (School Education, Skills Development & Training) Kona Sasidhar and representatives of the TBI were present.
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