Ministers call for global ambition, ethical enterprise, dwell on economic future

Hyderabad: Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Telangana Industries and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu on Saturday delivered compelling calls for ambition, innovation and ethical enterprise at the HMTV Business Excellence Awards in Hyderabad, emphasising that India’s rise as a global economic force hinges on its entrepreneurs, its technological readiness and its ability to tap into the energy of its youth. As many as 36 awards were presented in various categories.

Speaking at the event attended by business leaders from across India and the GCC, Naidu said he flew in from Delhi solely to acknowledge the role of entrepreneurs in nation-building and to recognise HMTV’s contribution to journalism. He noted that entrepreneurs, unlike farmers or soldiers, often face fluctuating societal perceptions, receiving little support initially, admiration upon success, and suspicion when they grow too successful.

Despite these contradictions, he said, businesses remain the backbone of national development. Calling on India’s industries to embrace global competitiveness, he urged them to “Make in India, but make for the world,” adding that the world’s expectations from India have risen under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Technology adoption, he stressed, must be embraced with urgency, as industries unable to adapt will be left behind.

Ram Mohan Naidu expressed concern that India still lacks a strong culture of entrepreneurship among the young, observing that the ten GCC experts on stage had together created nearly $40 billion in economic value. Awards, he said, should not be seen merely as recognition but as a responsibility to inspire the next generation. He urged for greater focus on women entrepreneurs and rural innovators, calling them “hidden gems” of India’s economic landscape.

Union Minister also cautioned against politicising business ecosystems, stating that when governments change, political leaders may sit in opposition, but businesses should not be forced into opposition for five years. Stable policy environments, he added, were essential for long-term investments.

In a wide-ranging address, Telangana Minister Sridhar Babu said the State was preparing itself not just to compete with India’s top performers but with the world’s leading economies. Business today, he said, is deeply shaped by geopolitics, fluctuating trade policies and a global war for talent. He cited the impact of China’s export controls on critical raw materials and the recent shifts in US visa and trade policies, saying they had affected India’s pharma, electronics and technology sectors.

These challenges, he said, should push India towards deeper self-reliance and renewed investment in domestic capability. To future-proof its workforce, Telangana has launched an ambitious skill and technology roadmap, including a new industry-driven Young India Skills University, state-wide BFSI training programmes, upgraded industrial training institutes equipped with robotics and AI tools, and new innovation hubs such as OneBio Pharma Incubator and the upcoming Global AI Hub.

Adding a national perspective, B V Naidu, chairman of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, said India could become a developed nation by 2047 if it sustains momentum in digital innovation, entrepreneurship and talent development. With India already the world’s fourth-largest economy and projected to surpass Germany by 2030, he said per capita income must rise tenfold over the next two decades.

B V Naidu pointed to India’s booming youth population, its 20 billion monthly UPI transactions and its expanding startup and GCC ecosystems as indicators of the country’s accelerating digital transformation. But with employability levels still below 40 percent, he emphasised the need for large-scale skilling and for moving economic hubs beyond major metros. Concluding, he said India’s aspiration to become a $40 trillion economy by 2047 would require collective commitment from industry, government and academia, and urged every stakeholder to contribute to the nation’s growth story.

K Hanumanta Rao, Managing Director, Hyderabad Media House Pvt Limited and P Madhusudhan Reddy, Chief Editor, The Hans India &Bizz Buzz, were present at the awards function.