India must aim to be No 1 economy: N Chandrababu Naidu at ET WLF 2025

Andhra Pradesh's USP is human capital, said chief minister and key NDA ally N Chandrababu Naidu in a chat with Nidhi Sharma at the ET World Leaders Forum. He spoke about US tariffs, welfarism and his vision for the state. Edited excerpts:

How has one year in power been?

We are living in inspiring times. I have faced some setbacks - first was bifurcation (of Andhra Pradesh) and then misrule of 2019 to 2024. I have come to power in 2024 and there is a lot on my agenda. India has certain advantages - one, 1991 economic reforms, then the first-mover advantage on IT and then the demographic dividend advantage. As of today, we are the youngest country in the world. But the biggest advantage is - right time, right place and right leader. The right leader is Narendra Modi.


Andhra Pradesh is trying to attract investments. What is the state's USP and which sectors do you see as the key drivers for growth?

Our biggest USP is our people, our human capital... Recently, our Prime Minister has initiated the next generation of reforms that is the need of the hour. In the last 11 years, India has become the fourth-largest economy from being 11th. In another one year we will become the third largest. Now it is our duty to change gears. We are in third gear and now we have to move higher. Our aim should be to become No. 1. There should be no compromise. The biggest problem is that we are not producing brands. We are using products globally but we are not contributing to global brands. It is our duty to have large-scale production. The future is technology. In Amaravati recently, the Prime Minister announced the launch of the Quantum Mission. The first-of-its-kind quantum computer will start working from January 2026 in Amaravati.

What do you think India should be doing on US tariffs?

India has seen so many challenges. In every challenge there is an opportunity. Now because of tariff, India has been given a message. There is a problem and India has to address it. But at the same time, it should be clear that there will be no compromise on our interests. Nobody can stop the power that India is. At the same time, I am confident the Prime Minister will handle this effectively. It is a temporary setback. If all of us have to analyse 11 years' performance, he is a globally accepted leader. He has done extremely well.

Andhra Pradesh has been a welfarist state and debt and liabilities stand at ₹9 lakh crore. Is there a need to temper your welfare programme?

I am working for the people. It is my duty to think about their welfare. At the same time, it is also my duty to generate wealth. Those who are creating wealth have the right to give welfare. Without creating wealth if you go on borrowing money it won't help. We have been able to get investments. I am confident that over the next five years, we will be able to attract ₹10 lakh crore of investments.

Did the opposition's choice of a Telugu vice presidential candidate make you weigh your options?

In both Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, we have a coalition government, which is NDA. Before elections we had this alliance. Where is the need or where is the question of supporting anyone else than the NDA candidate? Why did you have a doubt?

How confident are you that Amaravati will be completed before this term ends.

Hyderabad is the best city. God has twice given me the opportunity to build cities-Hyderabad and Amaravati. If you want to live happily, come and live in Amaravati. It will be a competition to Hyderabad and it will be the best city.