SET UP FOOD PROCESSING UNITS IN THE STATE  – C.M. TO FRENCH TRADE DELELGATION

Sri K.Rosaiah,Chief Minister is seen presenting an offer letter to H.E. Mrs. Anne-Marie Idrac, Minister for Foreign Trade, Republic of France for providing space in APIIC Centre, Masab Tank, Hyderabad to French Culture Centre “Aliance Franchise”, at Secretariat on 29-10-2009

Hyderabad|India|October'2009: Chief Minister Dr.K.Rosaiah requested the French Trade Minister, Ms.Anne-Marie Idrac to come forward for setting up of food processing and agro-based industries in the State for helping the farming community in a big way.

A 12-member delegation led by French Minister of Foreign Trade, HE Ms.Anne-Marie Idrac called on the Chief Minister K.Rosaiah at Secretariat and interacted with him on trade opportunities and mutual cooperation in the State.

Addressing the delegation, the Chief Minister said that his predecessor, late Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy had taken up the issue of setting up of automotive project by PSA Peugeot Citroen Company at Hyderabad with the Prime Minister of India for impressing upon the Government of France. The technical teams of the company have visited Hyderabad and it is believed that they have favourably recommended Hyderabad as a best destination. In this backdrop, he requested the French Minister to take up the issue of setting up of the automotive project at Hyderabad with the French Government and he assured all cooperation from the State government in this regard.

Mr. Rosaiah said that the UPA Chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is a very strong leader with high principles and that her ambition is to make India a great country that can be compared with big nations in the world. Her leadership combined with that of the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh is helping Andhra Pradesh at times of hardships and calamities besides helping the State progress in all the fronts. “I hope that India will become a super power one day under her able leadership”, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh is a leading Agrarian State having a strong base not only in crop sector but also in horticulture, sericulture, livestock and fisheries, and all these areas provide exciting opportunities for technical cooperation between the Governments of France and Andhra Pradesh. The Government of A.P. is looking forward for an active cooperation and collaboration from the Government of France, the Chief Minister said.

He further said that there are about 100 French nationals who are permanent residents of Andhra Pradesh and about 30 French companies are working in our state with about 6,000 workforce. Some of the notable French companies like Schneider Electric, manufacturers of electrical gears; St.Gobain, manufacturers of fibre glass; Cap Gemini, the biggest French presence in IT and the Hospitality group of Accor with 2 new Novotel Hotels have their presence in the state, he said. The delegation was told that Sanofi Pasteur has recently invested about 550 million Euros in Shanta Biotech, a vaccine manufacturing company based in Hyderabad.

The French Minister for Trade responded positively for the State government’s request and thanked the Chief Minister for the hospitality and cooperation.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister handed over a letter offering allotment of office space on lease basis for French Cultural Centre at the APIIC corporate building at Masab Tank, Hyderabad. The building is under construction and expected to be completed by March, 2010. This is intended for creating a meaningful cultural space in Hyderabad for joint use of ‘Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad’ and ‘Goethe-Zentrum, Hyderabad’.

Minister for Major Industries, Commerce Mr.Kanna Lakshminarayana; Advisor to Government(Industries), Mr.Peter Hassan; Spl.CS, Animal Husbandry, Dr.Priyadarshi Dash; APC & Spl.CS, Agriculture & Coop (Horticulture), Mr.Pankaj Dwivedi; Prl.Secy.,Ag&Coop., Mr.Ratna Kishore; Prl.Secretary, Industries, Mr.Sam Bob; Chairman & MD, APIIC, Mr.BP Acharya; Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Smt.Rani Kumudini and Commissioner of Industries, Dr.P.V.Ramesh were present.