The State government has entered into a sister-state agreement with the Canton of Zurich. The Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Zurich Councillor and Head of the Department for Economic Affairs Carmen Walker Späh in the presence of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
The agreement will promote collaborations through exchange of experience and information, joint cooperation plans, industry-specific programmes and projects, establishment of joint expert groups and work, implementation of skill development of an educational nature and regular expert-level consultations, said Mr. Naidu.
He said the economic and scientific relations in Information and Communication Technology, Environmental Technology, Life Sciences and Urban and Regional Development would get a boost. “Zurich is very strong in technology and innovation. Also, the education system is very good in Europe along with a high quality of life,” said Ms. Späh.
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Panchayat Raj and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, government advisor (Communications) Parakala Prabhakar, Governmnt Advisor (Agriculture) T. Vijay Kumar, Principal Secretary to CM G. Sai Prasad, Principal Secretary (Energy and I&I) Ajay Jain, Secretary (Industries) Solomon Arokia Raj, Economic Development Board CEO Jasti Krishna Kishore and others were present.
Earlier, Mr. Naidu met Ron Pal, Founding Partner and Chairman of Pioneering Ventures which has a presence in Kuppam and Nanded in Maharashtra and is looking for expansion in AP. Mr. Ron Pal said they were planning to invest ₹5,000 crore in horticulture and dairy in the next five years. The company would examine the agriculture development in the State and announce its plans. It has already invested ₹1,000 crore in the agriculture sector in India.
Mr. Naidu assured every possible support for the expansion plan and said the plan for a small airport in Kuppam would largely contribute to their cargo movement and travel. Horticulture production was increasing.
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The State government had grand plans for promotion of horticulture and food processing industry.