Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy addressed the state’s progress in securing investments since his last visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he signed proposals worth Rs 40,000 crore. He also shared his plans for the future of Hyderabad as the emerging hub for global investments.
Speaking to India Today News Director Rahul Kanwal, Reddy said, “Fourteen companies have signed MoUs with the Telangana government for 18 projects. Of these, 17 are in the pipeline, while one, the Adani pump storage project, is pending. After securing Rs 40,000 crore in investments last time, we have returned to Davos with an aim to secure projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore.”
Asked about Chandrababu Naidu’s presence in Davos, Reddy dismissed any notion of rivalry. “Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar are legends, but the time has come for Virat Kohli now. Times have changed, and so has the leadership,” he said. “I do not compete with Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, or Karnataka. My competition is with global cities like New York, Tokyo, Dubai, and Singapore.”
Highlighting Telangana’s appeal to global investors, Reddy pointed to Hyderabad’s ecosystem. “Any investor seeks protection for their investment and profits. Hyderabad offers a proven environment for business. It is centrally located, providing connectivity, and excels in IT, pharma, and AI sectors. Our policies and ecosystem are designed to foster business growth,” he said.
On what sets Telangana apart, Reddy mentioned amendments to investment policies and focusses on areas like green energy, defence, AI, and quantum computing. “For example, three COVID-19 vaccines were developed in India, and one was produced in Telangana. Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who initiated liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation, was from Telangana,” he said.
When asked about political opposition, Reddy downplayed challenges from the BRS and BJP. “Elections are four years away. For now, my focus is solely on development,” he said.
On this year’s achievements at the World Economic Forum, Reddy said the focus was on data centres, green energy, and AI. “Davos is not just a place for securing investments but also for learning,” he said.