Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has refused to talk about the quantum of investment flow following his Japan tour but said that he looked at long-term planning and results.
Emphasising that the Japanese government and top notch companies were looking for trade and business in India and make their mark, he said as a biggest market, they know their future is in India and within India, Andhra Pradesh will emerge as the logistic hub and as gateway to India and for establishing connectivity with the South East Asia, he said at a media conference here on Monday.
Recalling his tour to the US in the 1990s to invite Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Mr. Naidu said it took a long time to bring him to Hyderabad but then it eventually opened flood gates of investment to the United Andhra Pradesh.
IT brought visibility and pride to Andhra Pradesh. Now the government would focus on integrating technology, industry, manufacturing and logistics, he said.
Mr. Naidu said apart from MoUs signed with Japanese companies in various sectors, an important one was in the energy sector. The CEO of Soft Bank was keen on setting up 10,000 MW solar power project and disclosed his plans to network with world players and improve efficiency to bring down unit cost of solar power.
AP sought his cooperation for the 2,500 MW solar power already proposed in the State. The Soft Bank may also help AP in revolutionising the IT Sector. “We invited him to visit AP and he promised to give a report in about 45 days”, he said.
Mr. Naidu said JICA would develop an investment promotion programme for AP. To facilitate Japanese investors, a Japanese desk would be set up and it would coordinate with other departments. Japanese language would be introduced in three universities.
‘Procedures will be simplified’Admitting red tapism was a big challenge, he said he would streamline departments to cut down red tapism and promote ease of doing business.
That Japan’s Big Bay project for development of the Bay of Bengal would augur well for AP which was looking to develop the State as a logistics hub, he said Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam would be developed first under this plan.
