"Forward-looking and balanced": Andhra CM Naidu on Union Budget

Amaravathi (Andhra Pradesh) [India], February 1 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday described the Union Budget presented by the Central Government as forward-looking and balanced.
He welcomed the budget and congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on its presentation.
The Chief Minister stated that the budget would support the state government's efforts to move more aggressively in the priority sectors it has identified.
He said the budget aligns well with Andhra Pradesh's Ease of Doing Business policy and will further strengthen the state's reform-oriented approach.
He noted that the state government has already focused extensively on MSMEs, and the provisions in the Union Budget will further strengthen this sector. The budget, he said, "promotes the empowerment of women, farmers, and youth and will contribute significantly to India's goal of becoming a developed economy by 2047."
Chandrababu Naidu said, "The Finance Minister has presented a well-balanced budget that provides clear direction and momentum for economic growth. He highlighted that the budget encourages next-level reforms, including the adoption of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence."
The Chief Minister pointed out that the budget places strong emphasis on renewable energy and the vision of "One Grid, One Nation." he said, "It has been structured with short, medium-, and long-term goals in mind and will help improve living standards and enhance the ease of living for citizens."
He further stated that the Hyderabad-Bengaluru and Hyderabad-Chennai high-speed rail corridors will greatly benefit Andhra Pradesh. Important locations such as Tirupati and Amaravati will be covered under these corridors.
The Bengaluru-Chennai high-speed rail corridor will also pass through Palamaner, Chittoor, and other regions. Overall, three high-speed rail corridors will cover various parts of Andhra Pradesh, connecting major cities such as Hyderabad, Amaravati, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
The Chief Minister said, "Andhra Pradesh has been included in the dedicated Rare Earth Corridor, creating opportunities to extract high-value heavy minerals and support critical electronics manufacturing. He welcomed the allocation of ₹40,000 crore for the semiconductor sector under ISM 2.0."
He also noted that the textile sector has been given a boost, which will be highly beneficial for Andhra Pradesh. The budget prioritises tourism and hospitality, which will help promote tourism in regions like Araku.
Chandrababu Naidu said, "The budget includes measures to support crops such as coconut, cashew, cocoa, and sandalwood. He highlighted that tax exemptions for data centres have been extended until 2047, which will help India emerge as a global data centre hub."
He added, "Visakhapatnam is set to receive several data centres, including those by Google, which will support the growth of Artificial Intelligence and generate large-scale employment and livelihood opportunities."
Finally, the Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh has been focusing extensively on the logistics sector, and for the first time, the Union Budget has specifically mentioned the development of the logistics sector, which will further strengthen the state's growth prospects. (ANI)