With various states now competing amongst themselves for investments, including foreign capital, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday (10 Sunday) won the endorsement for his dynamic leadership by a huge section of industry captains, bureaucracy and political leadership.
If India was to grow at 9-10 per cent per annum, Andhra must take the lead and grow at 13-14 per cent per annum, “which is an achievable target under Naidu’s leadership”.
This was the general refrain at the Sunrise Andhra Pradesh Investment Meet – CII Partnership Summit 2016.
“This year, Andhra may have come second on the ease-of-doing business index. But as we get a new ranking next year based on 340 points, I am sure Andhra will give Gujarat (this year’s topper on the ease of doing business index) a run for its money,” said DIPP Secretary Amitabh Kant, showering effusive praise on Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership and vision.
Commerce and Industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman recounted how a mere mention of the summit in one of the conversations with Naidu clinched the deal for Andhra – so keen he was to have the summit in this newly-carved state. She also recalled Naidu’s contributions – Cyberabad IT hub in Hyderabad and a world class airport in the city.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stressed that Naidu’s leadership, apart from the famed Telugu entrepreneurship skills, was a great asset for the state.
Industrialist Anil Ambani let it known that he was speaking for the entire industry when he said that it was his late father Dhirubhai Ambani who had initiated him to the “visionary called Naidu who dreamt with his eyes open”. Describing Naidu as a leader “who’s respected the world over” he talked about an MoU signed with the state on Sunday “for a world-class naval facility”. Pitching in for “Make in Andhra” as part of the “Make in India” movement, he expressed interest in the nuclear submarine project in the state.
Another industry captain Baba Kalyani virtually endorsed him on Naidu’s leadership quotient, as he announced his decision to set up an automotive component manufacturing hub in the state’s Nellore at a cost of Rs 1200 crore.
On his part, Naidu requested the Union government to take a cue from China’s onward march. “In China, coastal areas were developed first and then manufacturing was boosted for exports. We can similarly look at Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Mumbai and Gujarat as hubs for coastal development,” he said.
He said that by 2022, Andhra aimed to be among the top three states in the country. By 2029, he stressed, Andhra would be the top state in terms of development and happiness index. By 2050, Andhra would be the world’s best destination, he hoped.
He also said while the rest of the country fought over the land acquisition bill, his one appeal from the heart to the farmers of state resulted in 33,000 acre of land being given for the state’s new proposed capital – Amarvathy.
Delegates from some 45 countries are taking part in the Partnership Summit. Naidu declared that the next year's summit would also be held in Visakhapatnam.
BW Reporters
Suman K Jha was the deputy editor with BW Businessworld
