State can overcome debt under Naidu’s leadership: PV Ramesh

Former Chief Secretary PV Ramesh has expressed confidence in Andhra Pradesh’s economic future, asserting that the State can overcome its significant debt burden under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Addressing a conference organised by Jana Chaitanya Vedika on ‘Economic Development of AP – The Way Forward,’ Ramesh emphasised the need for a strategic roadmap combining long-term vision with immediate action plans.
Ramesh identified land administration as a critical area for improvement, advocating for a streamlined revenue system to bolster the State’s economic foundation. Agriculture, which sustains 65 per cent of the population, requires a significant productivity boost across sectors like horticulture, aquaculture, and animal husbandry. Despite being India’s top aquaculture exporter, the State lacks essential processing facilities and value addition, areas demanding urgent government intervention.
The industrial sector, contributing 18 per cent to the State’s economy, holds immense potential. Ramesh highlighted the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) as a strategic asset, capable of driving industrial growth due to its excellent connectivity. He emphasised the need to attract investments from Andhra Pradesh natives who are currently investing elsewhere.
Ramesh proposed a government-managed public portal to facilitate investor attraction and address supply-demand imbalances. He expressed concern over declining education standards and healthcare quality in government hospitals, calling for innovative solutions aligned with the Chief Minister’s P4 concept.
Advocating for autonomous urban areas and municipal corporations, Ramesh said that government focus is on core public services like water, roads, healthcare, housing, and transport infrastructure.