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CEO Naidu's AP steps up efforts to make Clinton's visit fruitful

Our Correspondent in Hyderabad

“Unless the US President Bill Clinton's itinerary is finalised, we may not be able to give the details of the 'green project',” says a senior functionary of the Confederation of Indian Industry's Andhra Pradesh branch. The said project is likely to be projected as the high point of Clinton's tour of 'CEO' Chandrababu Naidu's Andhra Pradesh beginning March 24. The point being sought to be made is this: the southern Indian province is not merely besotted with creating hype about the information technology initiative of its cyber-savvy chief minister; it is also concerned with issues like environment that is a rage in the US.

The green project is aimed at creating a pollution-free environment in the industrial belt in and around Hyderabad. This is sought to be achieved by adopting environment-friendly and energy-efficient technologies, especially in chemical processing and pharma companies that abound here, according to the CII.

Envisaged as an experimental venture, the green project is being jointly sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, the Andhra Pradesh government and CII.

It is located in the same area as the handicrafts village Shilparamam and the much-publicised Hitec City on the fringes of Hyderabad.

The state government has allotted the land for the project while the CII is mobilising funds from various quarters, including the USAID. If the project yields the desired results, it will be replicated in other industrial towns in the state.

“We are seeking and making preparations for an interaction between Andhra Pradesh's entrepreneurs and the US business delegation that may accompany the US president,” CII southern region vice-chairman Anil Kumar V Epur told rediff.com.

Meanwhile, hectic activity is on to ensure that the US presidential visit to Andhra Pradesh is incident-free. Two pre-advance and advance teams of US officials, led by Director of Advance Programmes at the White House Dan Rosenthal, twice visited the city recently, and went round a dozen places for possible inclusion in Clinton’s itinerary. The programme is yet to be finalised.

Another team of US officials is expected to land in the city on March 15 for finalising the programme under the guidance of the White House.

The CII is preparing profiles of local industrialists/entrepreneurs and notes on their companies and joint venture possibilities for the US officials' perusal.

The state government had shortlisted eight programmes for inclusion in Bill Clinton’s itinerary, including visits to the CII’s environment promotion venture at Madhapur, Hitec City, crafts village at Shilparamam, the Indian Institute of Information Technology at Gachchi Bowli, Satyam Technology Centre at Bahadurpally village and the American Studies Research Centre at Osmania University campus in the city.

Besides, the government proposed a meeting of the US president with the state ministers and senior bureaucrats at the Jubilee Hall in Public Gardens, a public reception and a short visit to either a project for emancipation of child labour or interaction with women social workers.

Clinton may also visit monuments like the Golconda Fort, Qutub Shahi tombs, the Charminar, Falaknuma Palace and the Salar Jung Museum.

US officials have already checked out leading healthcare, scientific, industrial and social welfare institutions in and around Hyderabad.

The recent killing of Panchayat Raj Minister A Madhava Reddy by the outlawed Maoists seeking agrarian reforms, has come as a setback to the state government. Naidu has stated that this would not deter his government from going ahead with preparations for the US President’s visit.

“Security will be definitely beefed up. We are not sure yet whether Clinton would spend just seven hours in Hyderabad or have a night halt,” a senior official said.

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Andhra Pradesh