Hyderabad,India,September 2008:Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Stephen Smith and a high-level delegation met the Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and held discussions with him. The Australian Minister said India is a growing economic super power and Australia has great ties with India. He told the Chief Minister that he is quite impressed by the tremendous development made by Andhra Pradesh in various fields.

The Australian Minister said that there is great potential for investment by Australian industrialists in the field of Information Technology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals,construction & agricultural research. He said he is on a week-long visit to India and he found Hyderabad one of the fastest growing cities. He sought details from the Chief Minister on the Health Insurance scheme for the poor—the Aarogyasri, the Housing scheme for the poor, the boost given to higher education, Self Help groups for women etc.

The Chief Minister in brief told the Australian Minister that 87% of the State's population is covered by the Aarogyasri scheme. He said the scheme is well received by the poor and low income group in the State. Dr Reddy also explained about the massive housing scheme for the poor taken up in the State. He also explained to the Chief Minister about the boost given to education in the State and said 17 Universities were started by the present Government. He said under the Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, 3 IIITs will have a total in take of 6,600 rural students.

The Chief Minister said that there are ample opportunities in the state in the infrastructure development, IT, BT and Manufacturing sectors. He also explained to the Australian Minister that Andhra Pradesh is Number One in the proper implementation of the NREG Programme.

The delegation consisted of Mr.John McCarthy, Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr.Andrew Dempster, Ministerial Adviser, Office of Minister Smith, Mr.Justin Hayhurst, Departmental Liaison Officer, Office of the Foreign Minister, Ms.Deborah Stokes, First Assistant Secretary, South and West Asia Middle East and Africa Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Aminur Rahman, Australian consul-General, Chennai, Ms.Victoria Walker, Counsellor, Australian High Commission, Mr.Ramakrishna Dastrala, Business Development Manager, Austrade, Hyderabad. Industries Minister Geetha Reddy, Adviser to the State Government, Peter Hassan and other officials attended the programme.
 

Reachout's News Bureau
Press Release from CM's Office
10th sept'08