“I Will Be the Bridge Between Telangana Industry & Union Government”: N. Ramchander Rao

In his first non-political public interaction after taking over as the President of the Telangana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mr. N. Ramchander Rao addressed over 300 industrialists at a special interactive meeting organized by the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) on Wednesday evening.

Themed “Roadmap for Inclusive Industrial Growth in Telangana” with a focus on the MSME sector, the meeting served as a platform for dialogue between industry and political leadership.

“I will be the bridge between the Telangana industry and the Union Government,” declared Mr. Rao, emphasising his commitment to raise the state’s industrial issues with the Centre and ensure necessary policy support and attention.

“BJP has often been labelled as a corporate-friendly government. But can a country grow without its industries and entrepreneurs? Industries, both big and small, are nation builders. They generate employment, produce goods and services, pay taxes, and create wealth,” he stated.

Highlighting the global success of Non-Resident Indians, he remarked, “Indians thrive abroad but not always in India. This gap is often a result of policy and governance. However, in the past 11 years under the NDA regime, India has seen substantial progress — particularly in MSME growth and skill development. A dedicated Ministry for Skill Development was a landmark step,” he added.

On Telangana’s Industrial Landscape, Mr. Rao called for decentralisation of industrial development in Telangana. “Development is concentrated in and around Hyderabad. Tier-II and Tier-III cities must also grow. Inclusive growth is the need of the hour.”

He shared that the Railway Ministry is considering a Regional Railway Ring Road to complement the proposed Regional Ring Road (RRR), creating new connectivity corridors for industry.

Mr. Rao urged youth to shift from a job-seeking mindset to becoming job creators and called for healthy competition among states and companies to drive growth.

“There’s no discrimination by the Union Government based on ideologies. Initiatives like UPI are transforming the nation and proving our collective strength,” he said.

Welcoming the gathering, FTCCI President Mr. R. Ravi Kumar stated, “This is the first time a state party president is addressing our members — and it won’t be the last. We believe continuous engagement between industry and political leaders is essential for progressive governance.”

Mr. Srinivas Gabriella, Chairman of FTCCI’s Industrial Development Committee, emphasized the disparity in district-wise development. “Just five districts around Hyderabad are developing. Local sourcing must be promoted. Women’s employment is still in single digits — this needs urgent attention.”

Mr. Shekhar Reddy, CMD, CSR Estates Ltd and former CII President, said, “We have the potential to outcompete China. Our long-pending concerns like GST and Stamp Duty must be resolved.”

Mr. K. Sudhir Reddy, President, Telangana Industrialists Federation, highlighted the absence of mega industries in the state over the past 16–17 years. “MSMEs thrive when large industries co-exist.”

The interactive session concluded with an engaging Q&A, reflecting the stakeholders’ hope for more such open platforms.