Hyderabad, India, March 9, 2025 – In a significant move to broaden Telangana’s economic horizons, CII Telangana announced the establishment of its first-ever CII Telangana Adilabad District Zone during its Annual Session & Conference held on March 8, 2025, in Hyderabad. This announcement aligns with CII’s commitment to promoting economic growth in regional areas, reflecting the vision of its outgoing Chairman, Sai Prasad, who coined the theme “Beyond Hyderabad.”
With the launch of this new zone, CII Telangana takes a step closer to its goal of nurturing economic opportunities in the northern districts, including Mancherial, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Nirmal, and Asifabad. The new Adilabad Zonal Council will be headed by Sanjeev Deshpande, a serial entrepreneur based in the United States, signaling a new chapter for the region’s growth trajectory.
CII Telangana’s theme for 2025, “Building a Competitive and Sustainable Telangana @2047”, encapsulates its long-term vision of transforming the state into a $1 trillion economy. Highlighting the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for over 2.6 million businesses across the state, Sai Prasad emphasized their role as the economic engine driving growth.
The event also marked a leadership transition with the announcement of Mr R. Siva Prasad Reddy as the new Chairman for 2025-26 and Mr. Gautham Kumar Reddy as the Vice Chairman. The session saw a series of thought-provoking addresses by industry leaders, shedding light on Telangana’s economic future.
Rohan Sachdev of EY India underscored Hyderabad’s emerging role as a startup and innovation hub, noting the state’s leadership in renewable energy and sustainable growth. He urged businesses to align their strategies with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, emphasizing that Telangana’s infrastructure and talent pool offer immense potential for business expansion.
Dr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Executive Chairman of Cyient Ltd., called for greater collaboration between industry and academia to enhance research and development (R&D). He highlighted the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the future but cautioned that human intelligence must guide AI decisions. Upskilling the workforce, according to Reddy, will be essential for realizing the full potential of this technological evolution.
Dr. R. Nandini of Chandra Textiles added that the state’s focus on manufacturing, technology, and human capital is critical to sustaining growth. She pointed to infrastructure projects such as Pharma City, which she believes will significantly boost business competitiveness in the state.
Sai D. Prasad of Bharat Biotech emphasized that Telangana’s goal of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2047 is within reach, thanks to the state’s focus on technology and innovation. He urged for balanced, responsible growth and highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in the process.
Wrapping up the keynote sessions, Ms. Vanitha Datla of ELICO Ltd. reaffirmed that the state’s ambition is achievable through collaboration among all stakeholders, including government, industry, and academia.
New Initiatives and Policy Advocacy – CII Telangana Leaders Map Out Path to $1 Trillion Economy
In a bid to enhance industry collaboration, CII Telangana also launched specialized forums, including the CFO Forum, with 43 senior finance leaders, and an ESG Forum, with 26 members from diverse sectors. These forums will focus on financial strategies, sustainability, governance, and responsible business practices. Additionally, CII Telangana introduced efforts to integrate the Indian Women Network (IWN) and Young Indians (Yi) more actively into all of its activities.
During the conference, CII Telangana presented 19 policy representations to various authorities on pressing issues, with over five recommendations already in progress for approval by the state government.
Focus on Industry 5.0 and MSME Growth
One of the most eagerly anticipated aspects of the event was the release of the Manufacturing 5.0 report, which aims to accelerate Telangana’s industrial transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0. This move is expected to position the state at the forefront of global manufacturing advancements.
In addition to the Manufacturing 5.0 report, several key industry sectors were spotlighted during the conference, including MSMEs, Family Businesses, Human Resources, Education, Infrastructure, Real Estate, IT, Defence, Space, and ESG. The event also celebrated the winners of the 11th Edition of the CII Telangana State-Level Quality Circle Competition, with TATA Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd. taking first place.
The collaboration of industry leaders, policymakers, and visionaries at this year’s session sets a promising tone for Telangana’s economic trajectory, as it moves toward the ambitious target of becoming a $1 trillion economy.
