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Andhra is the destination for investors, Naidu tells US team

Our Correspondent in Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has invited the American companies and Non-Resident Indians in the US to invest in the information technology, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors in the state.

At an interactive meeting with a 35-member delegation of the US consortium for trade with India here, Naidu said that Andhra Pradesh offered investment opportunities in information technology, agri-business and food processing, petrochemicals and chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, minerals and infrastructure sector.

Recounting the policy initiatives taken by his government over the last four-and-a-half years, Naidu said that even the World Bank has acknowledged Andhra Pradesh to be the "most reforming state" in the country. He said that the change in policy paradigm has yielded rich dividends.

"We are pursuing economic reforms with a human face. We are balancing welfare programmes, reforms and developmental activities. The only major state which has taken up power sector reforms is Andhra Pradesh. In fact, power sector reforms are at an advanced stage here," Naidu said.

Highlighting the investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said that the state government has taken up improvement of 10,268 kilometres of high-traffic density roads at a cost of Rs 38 billion.

The state with the longest coastline of over 1,000 km has taken up privatisation of the dozen seaports and the process has been completed at three ports -- Kakinada, Krishnapatnam and Voderevu. An international airport has been proposed for Hyderabad.

Besides its commitment to develop world-class infrastructure, Andhra Pradesh is making strides in the field of information technology, he said.

He also advocated closer cooperation between India and the United States, more particularly between Andhra Pradesh and the state of Michigan in the US, in education, health and medicare, commerce, insurance, construction and energy fields, besides automobile and pharmaceutical industry.

He said that Hyderabad has emerged as the "healthcare capital of India" with a string of 19 corporate hospitals. No other city in the country has so many corporate hospitals.

He pointed out that Andhra Pradesh has moved up from 22nd position to third position as the favoured destination for investments and industrial promotion after Gujarat and Maharashtra. "In two to three years' time, we want to be number 1 and stay in that position forever," he said.

He said Andhra Pradesh has so far attracted 49 projects with American stakes. These projects entail investment of $ 415 million. Besides, there are 38 projects located in the state with American technical collaboration.

Naidu gave an overview of the initiatives of the state government in four key areas: human resource development, involvement of stake-holders, administrative reforms and creation of world-class infrastructure. He said the state government would usher in e-governance in the state capital within six to eight months and in the entire state within one to one-and-a-half years.

He said that cooperation between Andhra Pradesh and Michigan would help create a "win-win" situation for both the states.

The US delegation comprised Michigan's Senator Gary Peters, Michigan State Representatives Andrew Raczkowski, Hansen Clarke, Paul N Deweese besides American and NRI entrepreneurs, including Victor Naidu (president, Ramsoft Systems Inc), Dr Sam R Kottamasu (secretary, Michigan Association for Trade with India), William L Bassitt (senior vice-president, economic development, Detriot Regional Chamber).

"We are embarking on a momentous journey together. We will strive to build a closer relationship between our two states," Rep Andrew Raczkowski said and invited Naidu to visit Michigan. Paul N Deweese highlighted the policies pursued by Michigan. Hansen Clarke, who is an Indian-American and a member of the House of Representatives, said Andhra Pradesh could become most productive.

Senator Gary Peters said, "Andhra Pradesh is a state on the move. Vision 2020 (envisioned by Naidu for his home state), is very ambitious. I am sure AP will achieve this ambitious goal well before 2020."

Later, the US delegation held discussions with the state ministers, government officials, university officials as well as industrialists and businessmen representing the Federation of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The US team, which arrived on a four-day visit on Thursday, will leave for New Delhi on Sunday.

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