Here is a morale booster from Tatas to Andhra Pradesh which is aspiring to build a world class capital besides an industrial ecosystem. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of TATA Sons and Chairman of TATA Trusts, has expressed confidence that various corporate houses including the TATA Group will be interested in having a presence in the fledgling State of Andhra Pradesh.
“I can say for sure the future of A.P is going to be great with the kind of plans, resources and leadership it has”, Mr. Tata said.
Addressing a press conference along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu after a meeting with industry captains in Vijayawada on Monday, Mr. Tata said the future of any State was dependent on its leadership. With Mr. Chandrababu Naidu in the saddle A.P is poised to become a model for others. “I am sure Mr. Chandrababu Naidu will lead A.P. successfully on the growth path,” he said.
Earlier, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said Mr. Tata positively responded to lend the TATA Trusts’ (Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust) expertise in promoting start-up companies and incubation centres in the State. Mr. Tata also agreed to travel across A.P to look at sectors to which the TATA Trusts could possibly extend a helping hand.
“I had requested Mr. Tata to invest in the combined State of Andhra Pradesh when I was Chief Minister. He will fully support us now also”, Mr. Naidu claimed.
Asked whether the government has invited TATA Group entities like TCS to foray into A.P in a big way, Mr. Naidu said he had a detailed discussion with the Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry during the latter’s visit to Rajahmundry for Godavari Pushkaram. Various issues are under examination. Hopefully they would come out soon with concrete plans. “I am sure TATA Trusts will have a larger stake in the development of Andhra Pradesh in the future with the present partnership for development of 264 villages in Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency serving as a turning point in the State’s history,” Mr. Naidu added. Before the media interaction began, Mr. Naidu showered encomiums on Mr. Tata, saying he is an icon for Indian industry and that A.P needed his valuable advice for development at the present juncture. TATA Trusts Executive Trustee R. Venkataramanan, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas, Ministers Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, P. Sujatha, Kollu Ravindra and Mayor K. Sridhar were present.
