Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu stated that India is moving towards shaping the emerging global economic order by strengthening reliable international partnerships, robust supply chains and strengthening manufacturing capabilities. Addressing the CII summit held in Visakhapatnam, he emphasized the potential for developing Andhra Pradesh into a major hub for investment and manufacturing.
The minister stated that India has maintained an economic growth rate of approximately 7.8 percent. He also highlighted achievements such as reducing poverty, promoting digital payments and supplying vaccines to over 100 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. He described the transformations India has undergone under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
On civil aviation expansion, the Minister highlighted the proposed 10-year extension of the UDAN scheme with an outlay of ₹30,000 crore, aimed at developing 100 additional airports and 200 modern heliports across the country. He also announced plans to design and manufacture an indigenous regional aircraft within two years under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s investment potential, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu pointed to its long coastline, strategic ports, abundant natural resources and young workforce, along with its strengths in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, tourism and renewable energy. He also lauded Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s emphasis on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Naidu commended the Andhra Pradesh government’s initiative to establish India’s first Drone City in Kurnool, as well as its support for emerging aviation technologies, including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. He assured full support from the Centre to increase the number of airports in the state from seven to 14 and to improve both domestic and international air connectivity.
(PIB)
