Partnership Overview
On 26 October 2026, during the 31st Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit held in Tirupati, the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), part of the Indismart Group, entered into a three‑year Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh represented by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority. The MoU is initially valid for three years from the signing date, and each party will bear the costs of the activities it undertakes.
Objectives and Scope
The agreement establishes a collaborative framework across four key areas: (i) hospitality education and skills development, (ii) promotion of Andhra Pradesh’s culinary heritage, (iii) destination development and sustainable tourism, and (iv) stronger industry‑academia linkages. The partnership aims to align professional hospitality training with industry needs and to showcase the state’s distinctive food traditions.
Educational and Training Programs
Proposed programmes will encompass food production, culinary arts, bakery and patisserie, food‑and‑beverage service, front‑office operations, housekeeping, hotel operations and tourism operations. Specialized training modules will address food safety, hygiene, kitchen management, menu planning, costing, sustainable food production and waste minimisation. The collaboration will blend practical training, workshops and certification‑oriented programmes with industry exposure through internships, educational visits, culinary competitions, placement linkages and entrepreneurship opportunities, subject to mutually agreed arrangements.
Culinary Heritage and Tourism Promotion
A major dimension of the MoU is the promotion of Andhra Pradesh’s culinary heritage. Activities will include chef master‑classes, culinary demonstrations, regional cuisine workshops and train‑the‑trainer programmes designed to highlight indigenous ingredients, traditional cooking practices and regional food cultures. Culinary tourism will be promoted as an expression of the destination’s identity.
Sustainable Practices and Technology Integration
The partnership will explore sustainable hospitality practices such as responsible tourism, local sourcing, farm‑to‑fork concepts and food‑waste reduction. Emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), will be applied to hospitality education and tourism operations to enhance learning outcomes.
Implementation Governance
A joint coordination committee comprising designated nodal officers from both parties will oversee implementation. The committee will meet quarterly or as mutually agreed and will conduct an annual assessment of activities and outcomes. The first three months after signing will focus on developing a joint action plan. Pilot training programmes, workshops and stakeholder mapping are scheduled for months three to six, followed by expansion across identified priority destinations between months six and twelve.
Key Participants and Statements
The MoU was signed by senior officials including Sri Shamsher Singh Rawat, IAS (Special Chief Secretary, Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh), Sri Sagili Shan Mohan, IAS (CEO, Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board), Sri Chiranjeev Choudhary, IFS (Senior Indian Forest Service Officer) and Sri Ravindra Sannareddy (Founder & Managing Director, Sri City Pvt Ltd). Dr Suborno Bose, Founder & Chairman of the Indismart Group and IIHM Worldwide, stated that hospitality education must be connected to the places and communities it serves and that preserving Andhra Pradesh’s culinary identity is essential for tourism.
Cost Sharing
Each party will bear the costs of the activities it undertakes under the agreement; IIHM will provide faculty, chefs, industry experts and technology‑enabled learning resources, while the state will identify priority destinations and support promotional activities.