From the Chairman’s Desk

Respected Chief Minister, Ministers, and Officials of the Government of Telangana,

The recently concluded Telangana Rising Global Investment Summit has delivered an outstanding outcome: MoUs worth more than Rs 5 lakh crore have been signed in a single event. This is a proud moment for the state and clear proof that Telangana is being seen as a serious investment destination. The branding value that Hyderabad has gained from this summit is immense, and the government deserves full credit for organising an event of this scale and visibility.

However, several voices, including well-meaning citizens and industry observers, have pointed out areas where public money appears to have been spent less efficiently than it could have been. Reliable sources indicate that certain works were awarded without open tenders and at rates reportedly 200–300% higher than prevailing market prices, leading to an estimated avoidable expenditure of at least Rs 100 crore. While the success of the summit is unquestionable, such practices risk diluting the very credibility the government has worked hard to build. Event could have been held at Hitex which would have saved the govt Rs 100 crore. Hardly 50 per cent of the MoUs are grounded.

With that in mind, here are some practical, forward-looking suggestions that can help the next edition become not just bigger, but far more effective and cost-efficient and actual:

1. Make Telangana Rising an annual flagship event with a fixed calendar date. Predictability will allow global investors to plan well in advance and will strengthen the state’s brand year after year.

2. Invest in permanent, world-class infrastructure (exhibition halls, convention facilities, and investor-ready accommodation) at a single location such as the Future City. These assets can be used for multiple events throughout the year, bringing down the per-event cost dramatically and eliminating the need for expensive temporary structures.

3. Avoid re-signing MoUs for projects that are already committed. Inflating numbers for headlines undermines trust. Instead, showcase genuine new commitments and, more importantly, highlight ground-breakings and inaugurations of projects from previous summits.

4. Shift the focus from foreign delegations to serious domestic industrialists who understand Indian conditions better and can execute faster. Most of the Rs 5 lakh crore commitments actually came from Indian groups. Building deeper relationships with them will yield quicker results.

5. Create ready-to-invest “plug-and-play” industrial packages well in advance:

1. Form sector-specific Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).
2. Get international consultants to prepare bankable Detailed Project Reports.
3. Acquire and allot land, secure every statutory clearance, and keep the entire package in the name of the SPV.
4. On the day of the summit, simply transfer the SPV to the investor for a transparent price and hand over binding agreements (not just MoUs). Construction can begin the very next day.

6. Replace red-carpet ceremonies for political leaders with targeted, minister-level outreach. Six to eight months before the summit, let the Chief Minister, concerned Ministers, and Secretaries personally visit the offices of the top 100 industrialists across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and even within Hyderabad. One-on-one conversations in their boardrooms carry far more weight than invitations extended at Davos or through intermediaries.

7. End the culture of making industrialists wait for appointments in Secretariat corridors. Whenever a serious investor lands in Hyderabad, ensure a red-carpet welcome and an immediate meeting with the empowered authority.

8. Restructure the I&PR Department or create a professional private PR and investor-relations agency that works round the year to tell Telangana’s story globally, not just during the summit. If necessary, create Investment Ministry. Publicise the best policies for different sectors.

Involve the Opposition party leaders especially leaders like KT Rama Rao in the Summit. Such a move will go a long way and sent a strong message to the investors that political differences have no role to play when the state development is concerned. With this the investors will not entertain any doubts over the change of government in the State. Remember and recollect how Atal Bihari Vajpayee  was sent as the Country’s representative to talk on Kashmir at the UN by the then PM PV Narasimha Rao. Recall how Mrs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi used to consult the Opposition leaders, ten them into confidence while taking major policy decisions? When state’s development and welfare of its people concerned, political differences should take a back burner. Such a measure will add to the Brand Telangana value.

9. Institute a rigorous monitoring mechanism:

1. Monthly video-conference reviews of every signed project chaired by the Chief Minister.
2. A live public dashboard where citizens and investors can track the status of each commitment in real time.
3. Assign dedicated relationship managers who follow up daily through a digital platform.

10. Finally, and most importantly, minimise scope for corruption at every stage: from tendering of summit-related works to land allotment and clearances. Only when investors see complete transparency will they commit Rs 10 lakh crore annually instead of Rs 5 lakh crore once in a while.

Telangana already enjoys natural advantages that few states can match: central location, cosmopolitan culture, excellent infrastructure, abundant water, reliable power, and a safe environment. With disciplined execution and bold reforms, the state can easily emerge as India’s most investor-friendly destination.

The first Telangana Rising has shown what is possible. The next one can show how seriously the government means business.

With Best wishes and optimism,

-CL Rajam Chairman