Phillip Min, Consul General, U.S. Consulate in Chennai, called on Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy at his chamber here on Monday. Accompanied by a few officials from the Consulate General office, Mr. Min spent about 30 minutes with the Chief Minister.
Later, Mr. Narayanasamy said that he apprised the U.S. envoy of the various infrastructures available in Puducherry to start non-polluting industries. The Union Territory had surplus power and availability of land and offers good scope for investors from U.S. to start new industrial units.
The Chief Minister said that he also told Mr. Min that Puducherry also had potential for water sports, theme parks and other tourism-related activities, he said.
The government was also keen to encourage investment by U.S. Government and its entrepreneurs to promote software parks, pharmaceutical companies and automobile ancillary units.
Mr. Narayanasamy said that he would leave for Delhi on Tuesday and meet Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking clearance for the budget allocation for the UT.
The Government has sought Rs.7,665 crore including allocation under non-plan. The budget allocation had already been cleared by the Union Home Ministry and was awaiting the clearance of the Union Finance Ministry, he said.
“The Puducherry government is also keen on reviving the Airport here. We would soon meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to request allocation of land located within the territorial limits of the State for expansion of the runway in the Puducherry airport,” he said.
Mr. Min also called on Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi at the Raj Nivas.
