Naidu calls for collective efforts to achieve $10-trillion southern States’ economy by 2047

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday called for greater cooperation and coordination among the southern States, saying their collective progress could become a powerful driving force for India’s development and help realise the goal of Viksit Bharat.

Addressing the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting at Mahabalipuram near Chennai, Mr. Naidu said the southern States had the potential to collectively emerge as an economy worth more than $10 trillion by 2047. The meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussed an agenda comprising 24 issues.

Mr. Naidu said disputes and pending issues between States should be resolved through mutual trust, cooperation and coordination. He proposed a range of joint initiatives, including a bullet train corridor connecting Amaravati, Bengaluru and Chennai via Kuppam, which he said could significantly boost economic activity across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.