The event was inaugurated by Sri Sridhar Babu, Minister for Information Technology, Industries and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana, along with Dr. Preethi Reddy and Dr. G.V. Rao, Chairman of SAS Infra. Delivering the keynote address titled “Hyderabad: Becoming India’s Innovation Capital”, Sri Sridhar Babu said that while the twentieth century was driven by competition for resources, industries and capital, the twenty-first century belongs to nations capable of attracting ideas, talent and innovation. He noted that India’s rise from the eighty-first to the thirty-ninth position in the Global Innovation Index over the past decade reflected the country’s growing innovation capabilities and highlighted Telangana’s determination to lead this transformation.
He stated that India has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem and that Telangana has emerged as one of the country’s most dynamic centres for innovation, earning recognition as a top performer in the central government’s States Startup Rankings. According to him, initiatives including AIKAM, the Telangana Data Exchange, a one-thousand-crore-rupee Fund of Funds for Startups, the proposed Artificial Intelligence University, Skill University and one hundred Advanced Industrial Training Institutes are creating an ecosystem where innovation is actively supported and enabled.
Emphasising the importance of education, the minister said the state is implementing Artificial Intelligence-enabled classrooms and the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Mission to equip nearly two million government school students with future-ready skills. He added that innovation is being integrated into education, governance and entrepreneurship. Addressing innovators and entrepreneurs, he said Telangana may not guarantee the success of every idea, but assured that sincere initiatives would receive support, opportunities and confidence to grow.
The day-long forum featured extensive discussions on economic growth and market outlook, future-ready infrastructure, digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, Global Capability Centres, entrepreneurship, investment and capital. Sessions also covered life sciences, retail, real estate, wealth management, education, hospitality, entertainment, women’s leadership and sports infrastructure, reflecting Hyderabad’s expanding economic landscape. Participants explored how technology, investments and collaborative ecosystems could accelerate the city’s development.
Reflecting on the outcome of the event, Dr. G.V. Rao, Chairman of SAS Infra, said Hyderabad’s strength lies in its ability to simultaneously excel across sectors such as technology, life sciences, retail, real estate, sports and entertainment. He stated that the forum was created to bring together stakeholders shaping the city’s future and to ensure that meaningful dialogue continues in the coming years.
Hyderabad Economic Forum 2026 featured more than twenty distinguished speakers through keynote sessions, fireside discussions and panel conversations. One of the notable discussions examined whether Hyderabad could become India’s first truly global real estate market, highlighting the city’s broader aspirations.
Prominent speakers included Dr. Ch. Preeti Reddy, Vice-Chairman of Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth; Lieutenant General Satish Dua, retired General Officer of the Indian Army; Sarvesh Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals for the Government of Telangana; Rahul Attuluri, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of NxtWave; Dr. Anil Lamba, Director of Lamcon Finance and Management Services; Karthik Yanamandra, Founding Partner of 360D Sports; Rehan Guha, Founder of Oxymorons and Half-a-Bawa Hospitality Consultants; and Mrunalini Rao, Founder and Creative Director. Faye D’Souza, Founder of Beatroot News, moderated several sessions during the forum.
The event concluded with a broad consensus that Hyderabad is uniquely positioned to lead India’s next phase of growth, innovation and global relevance. Organisers described Hyderabad Economic Forum 2026 as the beginning of a long-term platform that will continue bringing together leaders, policymakers and innovators to strengthen the city’s economic vision and global competitiveness.
SAS Infra, headquartered in Hyderabad, is a premium real estate developer with an active portfolio covering ultra-luxury residential, large-scale commercial and luxury retail developments, including SAS Crown in Kokapet and SAS iTower in Khajaguda. Bower School of Entrepreneurship served as the knowledge partner for Hyderabad Economic Forum 2026. The forum marked a significant step in defining Hyderabad’s future trajectory and reinforcing its aspirations to emerge as one of the world’s foremost centres of innovation and economic growth.
About The Author
Comment List