Hyderabad|India|March'2010: The Chief Minister Dr K. Rosaiah called on the President of Singapore, Sellappan Ramanathan (S.R.Nathan) at Novotel Hotel, Shamshabad where the latter is staying. Mr S R Nathan is the Head of the State and is serving his second term as President of the Republic of Singapore. The President told the Chief Minister that he was very happy to visit Andhra Pradesh, one of the fastest growing States in the country. The Chief Minister enquired about the visit of the President to Tirumala and about his darshan. The President said Tirupati is one of the biggest pilgrim centres in the world. Dr Rosaiah said that there are special plans to develop Tirupati and also establish an international airport there.

The Chief Minister said that the atmosphere is conducive in Andhra Pradesh for massive investments in various sectors. He said Andhra Pradesh provides the best infrastructure facilities for investors with single window clearance and maximum incentives in the country. The new industrial policy which will ensure more attractive incentives is to be announced soon. Dr Rosaiah told the Singapore President that there are many sectors like IT, Infrastructure, Food Processing etc. where Singapore investors could invest.

The Chief Minister explained to Mr. S R Nathan that the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad was declared as World's Best Airport in the 5 to 15 million passengers category. The Chief Minister said this airport was also declared as the fifth best Airport in the World. Dr. Rosaiah said the Indian School of Business was adjudged among the top-12 business schools in the world. The Chief Minister informed the President that according to RBI report Andhra Pradesh is ranked as the second best investment destination in the country.

"We are first among the best in many sectors. We also have lowest power tariff for industrial sector, abundant natural resources and vast skilled and unskilled human resources". Mr.Rosaiah asked the Singapore investors and industrialists whom he described as world leaders in investments and most enterprising, "not to miss the bus". Mr. Nathan agreed in principle to import fruits and vegetables from A.P. through societies in large scale. The President also said the Public Distribution System is the best in Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister said that 3.5 lakh tonnes of rice are distributed through PDS to BPL families every month.

The Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh has the maximum number of Engineering Colleges and IITs producing skilled manpower. He said AP is the leader in Paper, Cement, Pharma and granite industries, 2nd in the country in textiles, 3rd in iron and 4th in steel production. Other potential sectors are food processing, engineering industries & biotechnology and now the emerging sectors are semiconductors, aerospace and precision tools.

The Singapore President assured the Chief Minister he will convince the industrialists and investors of his country to invest in Andhra Pradesh and invited the Chief Minister to visit Singapore at an early convenient time. Singapore Ambassadors Gopinath Pillay, Chandra Das, Consul General Ajit Singh, Adviser to Govt. of A.P., Peter Hasan, Chairman, GMR Group, G. Mallikarjun Rao and others were present.

Reachout's News Bureau
March' 2010