Keen on maintaining its identity of an umbrella body for trade and industry in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry is going for a name change to accommodate Telangana.
Effectively, this ensures that the Federation stays as one and yet gets to promote the cause of trade and industry in both the States. Towards this, the network of offices will be expanded and the secretariat strengthened with dedicated staff for each of the States. Simultaneously, it looks to grow the direct membership almost twice as much from existing 3,500 in a couple of years.
Announcing that the new name – Federation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry – was approved by the EGM on Tuesday, FAPCCI leaders said members favoured the body covering both the States and there would be no conflict of interest. The chamber, they added, was formed in 1917 to represent the old State of Hyderabad.
President Shiv Kumar Rungta and senior vice-president Anil Reddy Vennam, who addressed presspersons, said the new offices would be set up in Vijayawada and Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Locations in Telangana under consideration include Warangal, Nizamabad and Karimnagar.
Noting that the views of the Federation were being sought by both the States, they emphasised on power shortage likely to become an issue in Andhra Pradesh. Both the States, they added, were working to address the shortfall. Mr. Rungta was also hopeful of States clearing the incentives due to industries by March. Companies are very eager to expand, but waiting for things to settle down in both the States, he said, pointing that the ongoing process of allocation of officers had brought work at the State secretariats to a standstill.
