With all these attractions, I regret to say that I am not able to be physically present in Visakhapatnam to deliver the Presidential Address at the 23rd Annual Conference due to unavoidable official commitments. The Andhra Pradesh Economic Association has been one of the pioneering efforts in our country in organising a sub-national level professional body of economists.
I have no doubt that it is a wise initiative and needs to be carried forward. As the economic reform in India progresses, the relative balance in public policy would shift in favour of the states relative to the centre.