Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said here on Sunday that Singapore could lend its expertise in capacity development of Andhra Pradesh officers in urban development, transport, skill development and tourism.
The Chief Minister, who returned from the city-state after a three-day visit on Friday, said the Sembcorp Design and Construction Company evinced interest in setting up a 2,400-MW power plant at Krishnapatnam. It would like to create infrastructure and provide integrated utility services to a special economic zone in a cost-effective manner. However, the government would like to have a 50 per cent stake in the project and a special purpose vehicle was being considered. Another special purpose vehicle could be formed for irrigation projects.
Mr. Naidu said he had interacted with 200 companies in Singapore and many of them evinced interest in establishing units in the State. SIA, Sembcorp, Ascenda, Jurong and Temasek had shown keen interest in opportunities in the State. He said Japan and Singapore were looking to tap the huge market potential in India.
The support of Singapore’s Global School Foundation was sought in developing the education policy and plans to set up a model school, while the guidance of the National Computer Systems was requested in e-governance initiatives. Discussions with Tata and SIA (Singapore Airlines) centred on making Andhra Pradesh a tourism hub.
Forming of joint working groups was suggested to focus on various areas.
Observing that Visakhapatnam could be turned into the country’s logistics hub, Mr. Naidu said air, ship and container cargoes and river cruises could be launched from Visakhapatnam to Kolkata or Chennai.
Describing his Singapore visit as a huge success, the Chief Minister said he found the Singapore Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and others to be very positive towards India and Andhra Pradesh during his interactions with them.
