Telangana’s Commerce Minister K.T. Rama Rao has received an invitation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Switzerland next month — an invite generally restricted to Central Ministers or Chief Ministers, said a government statement on Wednesday.

The Information Technology, Industries and Commerce Minister has been invited to the prestigious meet in recognition of his active role in making Telangana the number one state in the ease of doing business ranking, said the statement from the Minister’s office.

More than 2,500 business leaders, economists and politicians from around the world will attend the meeting scheduled to be held in Davos.

The forum, while extending the special invite, took into consideration the key role played by the minister in organising Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad last month and his efforts over last three years in attracting investment to the state.

Rama Rao, the son of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, will meet business leaders and CEOs of leading companies during the two-day meet starting from January 17.

KTR, as the minister is popularly known, said he would highlight the policies of the state government, especially the industrial policy and the enormous investment opportunities in the state.

All households in Telangana will have broadband internet connection by December next year. Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Wednesday directed officials to speed up the work to achieve the target.

At a review meeting with the officials, he said as the Mission Bhageeratha work, aimed at providing drinking water connection to every household, is scheduled to be completed on time there is a need to speed up the work to provide internet connection as well.

Under the Digital Telangana project, fibre cables are being laid along water pipelines to ensure broadband internet connectivity to every household.

The minister discussed the issue related to funds required for the project, the financial assistance being provided by the central government under Bharat Net and also the money required from the state government.

On this occasion, Vijaya Bank officials handed over to the minister documents relating to the Rs 561 crore loan to the Telangana Fibre Grid Corporation for the project.

The minister said with internet connection to every house, healthcare and education in rural areas will undergo revolutionary changes.

To showcase these changes before the world, a technology demonstration network in four villages of Maheswaram ‘mandal’ near Hyderabad will be completed in the first week of January, said a statement from the minister’s office.

The pilot project, in which 10 leading companies are participating, will highlight the benefits people will get from the Fibre Grid.

The Telangana government will next month launch its policy for electric vehicles to provide incentives to manufacturers and private players setting up charging stations, a senior government official said on Thursday.

Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industry, Commerce and Information Technology, said the policy will offer incentives for setting up charging stations and enable creation of infrastructure like allotment of lands.

The policy will also provide necessary regulatory framework for the sector. The government will amend certain laws so that the power can be drawn from power stations for charging facilities, he told reporters on the sidelines of an event where Mahindra Electric and Zoomcar announced launch of shared mobility in Hyderabad.

Zoomcar has deployed 20 Mahindra e20Plus on its platform for hire.

Ranjan said the EV policy was almost ready and they were waiting for feedback from the Transport and Municipal Administration Departments on the proposals. “Once we get their feedback, the policy draft will be sent to Chief Secretary and later to the Chief Minister for approval,” he said.

He said they already consulted industry and experts on the EV policy. The state government also hopes to attract EV manufacturers.

The EV market is currently small but once it starts growing, Mahindra will ramp up the production at its facility in Zaheerabad in Telangana, he said.

Ranjan said he feels that electric vehicles could also play a key role in ensuring last mile connectivity for commuters of Hyderabad Metro, which is set to be launched next week.

Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) has already tied-up with Uber and Ola to ensure last mile connectivity to and from metro stations. The commuters will have multiple options including electric cycles and pedal cycles from the stations to reach their destinations.

Telangana has bagged the best performing large state award in economy category as well as the cleanliness and environment category at the annual ‘India Today’ State of the States rankings this year.

The awards were received on behalf of the state by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K.T.Rama Rao and Backwrd Classes Welfare Minister Jogu Ramanna from the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in Delhi on Thursday, said an official release here.

The ‘India Today’ study tracks each state’s performance over time and, in particular, records the changes over the last five years. It takes into account both the business environment and the quality of life.

The parameters on which the states are judged include economy, agriculture, education, health care, infrastructure, inclusive development, law and order, governance, entrepreneurship and environment and cleanliness.