Andhra CM hails Budget’s focus on MSMEs and technology

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the Union Budget, calling it well-balanced and forward-looking. He said it aligns with state priorities, boosts manufacturing, MSMEs and technology, and supports Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat

Kuppam (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday welcomed the Union Budget, describing it as forward-looking and aligned with the state government’s development priorities.

Describing the Union Budget as “well-balanced and forward-looking”, he said it reflects India’s self-reliance and will consolidate the country’s position in manufacturing.

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“The Union Budget is forward-looking and aligns with the state government’s development priorities,” Naidu said while addressing a press conference here.

The Chief Minister congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a “well-balanced budget”.

The Budget’s emphasis on logistics, mentioned for the first time, aligns with the state government’s focus on the sector and will generate large-scale livelihood opportunities, he said.

“The Union Budget is well-balanced and forward-looking. The Budget reflects self-reliance and will consolidate our position in manufacturing. This would strengthen the ease of doing business. The Budget would play a great role in promoting and strengthening MSMEs,” Naidu said.

He further said women, farmers and youth have been given top priority and that the Budget would contribute to their empowerment.

Naidu said the Budget ultimately contributes to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of India becoming the world’s third-largest economy and achieving Viksit Bharat (a developed nation).

He said the Budget also provided clear direction for next-generation reforms, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, renewable energy and the ‘One Nation One Grid’ vision.

Naidu said the proposed high-speed rail corridors connecting Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai and Bengaluru-Chennai would significantly benefit Andhra Pradesh, covering regions such as Tirupati, Amaravati, Palamaner and Chittoor.

He said Andhra Pradesh’s inclusion in the dedicated Rare Earth corridor would open opportunities for extracting high-value heavy minerals and strengthening critical electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.

The Chief Minister said the allocation of Rs 40,000 crore under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 for semiconductors, along with incentives for textiles, tourism and hospitality, would boost employment and economic activity in the southern state.

The TDP supremo said tax exemptions for data centres till 2047 would help India emerge as a global data centre hub, noting that several major data centres, including Google facilities, were coming up in Visakhapatnam.