Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday interacted with 17 expatriates from the Gulf countries, who returned to the city with the help of the State government.
Mr. Reddy met them at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and promised to give them priority in welfare programmes like housing and employment. Civil Supplies Minister D. Sridhar Babu, who also handles the NRI affairs, was present.
As the amnesty for the expatriates, who were staying illegally after expiry of their visas was to end in the next two-three days, the State government made arrangements to bring back 300 such persons.
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The government provided air tickets to 20 persons, who arrived on Saturday and another 17 came on Sunday. An official team under the leadership of Special Secretary N.V. Ramana Reddy is touring the Gulf countries and coordinating to bring back expatriates back to Andhra Pradesh.