India’s Chief Economic Advisor, Dr. V Anantha Nageswaran,
revealed that South India is leading the country’s
economic progress with a GDP growth rate of 6.3 per
cent, significantly higher than the 5 per cent growth rate
observed in the rest of India.
The announcement came during his address at the Mystic
South Global Linkages Summit 2025, organised by the
Confederation of Indian Industry’s Southern Region.
The southern region’s economic prominence is particularly
evident in its manufacturing sector, with Tamil Nadu
contributing 20.4 per cent to South India’s manufacturing
GDP, primarily driven by automotive, textiles, and
electronics industries.
The region also demonstrates stronger workforce
participation, with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
notably achieving over 50 per cent women’s participation
in the workforce, making them the only Indian states to
reach this milestone.
A newly released report titled ‘2047 Southern Odyssey:
Powering Ahead to a USD 10-Trillion Economy’
underscores the region’s economic significance, noting that
South India contributed 31 per cent to India’s overall GDP
in 2023-24.
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka emerged as the top
performers, followed by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The per capita income in the southern region has grown at
5 per cent annually, surpassing the national average of 4.2
per cent.
During the summit, Dr. Nageswaran emphasised the
importance of industry-academia collaboration and urged
businesses to view research and development as an
investment rather than an expense, focusing on long-term
strategic competitiveness.
R Mukundan, CII Vice President and CEO of Tata
Chemicals, highlighted the role of public-private
partnerships in driving development across infrastructure,
manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors.
He emphasised that as India targets a USD 30-trillion
economy and Tamil Nadu aims for a USD 40,000 per
capita income, the development of smart industrial zones,
export logistics, and social infrastructure will be crucial
for sustainable growth
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