KTR showcases Telangana’s growth story at Columbia Business School conference

KT Rama Rao highlighted Telangana’s rapid economic growth and innovation ecosystem at a global conference in New York, urging entrepreneurs to focus on AI-driven cross-sector innovation and calling India’s federal structure a key driver of future growth

Hyderabad: Asserting that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will reshape industries across all sectors, BRS working president and former Minister KT Rama Rao urged entrepreneurs to focus on cross-sector innovation. He said the next wave of growth will emerge at the intersection of AI, life sciences, fintech, climate tech, manufacturing and agri-tech, among others.

He presented Telangana as a model of accelerated economic transformation, calling it the most successful startup State of independent India during his address at the 21st Annual India Business Conference at Columbia Business School in New York.

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Addressing a global audience of students, entrepreneurs and investors, Rama Rao attributed the State’s growth trajectory to focused leadership under former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. He said Telangana, which was formed after a prolonged statehood movement, had evolved into a benchmark for governance, innovation and economic growth within just ten years.

He said Telangana built institutions, infrastructure and investor confidence proactively rather than waiting for opportunities. “As India nears 80 years of independence in 2027, Telangana stands out for achieving significant economic transformation within a decade,” he said, adding that clarity of purpose in leadership will build credibility and accelerate progress.

Positioning India’s federal structure as a key growth driver, the former IT and Industries Minister argued that the country’s economic rise will depend on States leveraging their distinct advantages. Comparing India to a Formula 1 grid with 28 engines, he said each State should play to its strength and act as an engine contributing to national progress through competitive development. He emphasised that while global attention often focused on national leadership, investment decisions were ultimately made at the State and city levels.

Citing data, Rama Rao said Telangana’s IT exports surged from Rs 57,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 2.72 lakh crore in 2023, while employment in the sector rose from 3.23 lakh to nearly 10 lakh. He attributed Hyderabad’s emergence as a global technology hub to policy stability, rapid approvals and a strong support ecosystem.

He pointed out that Hyderabad hosted major campuses of global corporations, including Amazon, Google, Apple, Meta Platforms, Salesforce, Uber and Micron Technology.

The BRS working president also highlighted the State’s investment in innovation infrastructure through institutions like T-Hub, WE Hub, T-Works and Telangana Academy for Skills and Knowledge (TASK). He said these facilities strengthened the startup ecosystem and played a pivotal role in the growth of unicorns like Skyroot Aerospace, Darwinbox, Zenoti and HighRadius.

On the life sciences front, Rama Rao said Telangana produced one-third of the world’s vaccines and nearly 40 per cent of India’s bulk drugs. He said Hyderabad evolved into a global hub for biotech and digital drug discovery, attracting firms such as Novartis.

In the agriculture sector, he pointed out the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, calling it a transformative initiative irrigating nearly 45 lakh acres. He said technology-driven governance ensured that growth reached farmers, entrepreneurs and youth.

Calling on the Indian diaspora to contribute, Rama Rao said India could achieve in a decade what countries like the US and China took three decades to accomplish, provided talent collaborates with governments and innovation ecosystems. “Don’t just announce ideas, but design them. Don’t just attract capital, but build investor confidence. Don’t just solve today’s problems, but create capacity for tomorrow,” he said.