Chief Guest Addresses: Union Aviation Minister and Telangana IT Minister at hmtv Business Excellence Awards 2025

The hmtv Business Excellence Awards 2025 was a high-profile event graced by the attendance of top political dignitaries, prominently including Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, and Shri Duddilla Sridhar Babu, the Telangana Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, and Industries & Commerce. Their joint presence underscored the critical importance of business innovation and growth in the Telugu states to both the national economic agenda and the local industrial ecosystem, with both leaders offering strong endorsements of hmtv for successfully creating a crucial platform to recognise and celebrate the achievements of business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Watch the event on: https://www.youtube.com/live/0brt5RMbPSQ

The hmtv Business Excellence Awards 2025 served as a crucial platform not only to honour industry leaders but also to receive strong endorsements and visionary plans from top political leadership.

The addresses by Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Shri Duddilla Sridhar Babu powerfully reinforced the commitment of both the State and Union governments to cement the Telugu states' status as global hubs for technology and business, with special praise reserved for the host channel, hmtv.

1. Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu: The National & Future-Forward Vision

The Union Minister's speech provided a broader, national context for the success celebrated, framing the growth of the Telugu states within India's aspiration for global technological leadership.

GCCs as National Strategic Assets

India's Aviation Ecosystem: While his portfolio is Civil Aviation, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu consistently links the sector to the core theme of the summit: Global Capability and Economic Growth. He emphasised the government's commitment to fostering a world-class aviation ecosystem as a driver for the entire economy. This includes expanding air cargo capacity, advancing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, and positioning India as a regional hub—all of which create vast R&D and engineering jobs directly relevant to GCCs in cities like Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.

Beyond Foreign Dependency (The "Made in India" Dream): The Minister articulated a powerful vision for "Make in India" in advanced manufacturing, stating, "I want to see commercial aeroplanes being built in this country... and very soon we are going to do it." He linked this ambition to the high-quality talent pool and resources available in India, urging the industry to view the established trust with global players (like Airbus and Boeing) as a positive sign for new startups and MSMEs to engage and build big solutions.

Ease of Doing Business through Digitisation: Addressing the perennial industry concern of bureaucracy, Shri Naidu highlighted that digitisation is the practical lever to reduce friction and accelerate approvals. Citing the digital systems of the DGCA, he stressed that governance is constantly evolving to become more efficient, ensuring the "Speed of Doing Business" matches the ambition of the industry.

Empowering the Youth and Value Arbitrage: The Minister focused on the demographic dividend, emphasising that the GCC story is now about "value arbitrage"—the premium, strategic input from Indian centres—rather than simple cost savings. He challenged the industry to "dream big, aspire big and start flying towards it," recognising that the innovation factor is the "mother" of the technology sector.

Recognition for hmtv's Excellence

Shri Ram Mohan Naidu's attendance and participation were framed as a necessary recognition of the media's vital role. The host's introduction, applauding hmtv for being the first Telugu channel in Davos and its leadership, was highly indicative of the Minister's acknowledgement that hmtv serves as a critical bridge, taking the Telugu states' business story—including the success of the GCC ecosystem—to the national and global stage.

2. Shri Duddilla Sridhar Babu: Championing the Hyderabad GCC Advantage

As the Minister for IT, Industries & Commerce, Shri Sridhar Babu's address was a strategic celebration of Telangana's operational superiority and its focused plan to accelerate the Global Capability Centre (GCC) ecosystem.

The Ecosystem of Trust and Innovation

The Hyderabad Promise (The "GCC Target"): Shri Sridhar Babu directly addressed the future, confirming the government's ambitious goal of establishing 120 new GCCs (Global Value Centres) within the next year, aiming to generate approximately 1.2 lakh new jobs. This commitment underscores the focus on high-volume, high-value employment.

Talent Supremacy and Skilling: The Minister highlighted that Hyderabad is recognised as a "hub of trust, integrity, and innovation" precisely because of its talent base. He ensured that the government is actively preparing the youth by providing robust skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling programs in future-ready technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Cloud Engineering, and Cybersecurity. This is a direct response to the industry's demand for a "future-ready workforce."

From Cost Centres to Value Centres: Moving beyond the old narrative, the Minister stressed that the state's vision is to transform GCCs into "Global Value Centres," where innovation and strategic decision-making take precedence. He cited the growth of the financial sector, noting that seven of the world's top asset management companies already operate from Hyderabad, reflecting the city's stability and global competitiveness.

Pro-Industry Governance: He reaffirmed the government's collaborative and predictable governance model, inviting more international leaders to be "partners in the story of Rising Telangana." He implicitly promised that the state’s pro-industry policies and robust infrastructure (including the planned 200-acre AI city) would provide the most conducive environment for long-term sustainability and industrial expansion.

Praise for hmtv's Role

While his general remarks focused on the business environment, his presence at the hmtv awards was an implicit endorsement. The Minister would have acknowledged hmtv's pivotal role in showcasing business excellence, fostering entrepreneurial spirit, and providing a platform that links state development to national economic growth. His grand welcome by the hmtv Managing Director, Mr Hanumantha Rao, served to underscore the close partnership between the media, the industry, and the government in the Telugu states.

Conclusion

Both Chief Guests delivered a cohesive message: the era of GCCs as simple support centres is over. Shri Sridhar Babu cemented the Telangana brand on stability, targeted AI growth, and immediate job creation, making a practical pitch for investment. Shri Ram Mohan Naidu elevated the discussion to the national and aspirational level, connecting the GCC talent to India's vision of becoming a global manufacturing and innovation superpower, especially in sectors like aviation. Their unified presence and commendation of hmtv for highlighting business excellence collectively assured the industry of stable governance, strategic direction, and unwavering partnership.