Naidu woos Dutch investors to AP

• Meets a delegation and seeks investment and technological support in aqua, agro-processing units
• Assures road, air and water connectivity besides uninterrupted power supply for industries
• Govt proposes to sell products of Self-Help Groups online through Flipkart, Big Basket

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met delegates from Netherlands led by Ambassador to India, Alphonsus Stoelinga, at his office here and the delegation patted him for government’s ambitious plans to develop the new State of Andhra Pradesh, particularly the capital city, Amaravati.

The Chief Minister briefed them about his plans to develop the State on all fronts and said that he has set focus on ten major sectors and wanted the Dutch men to invest in AP.

He said that the government was giving priority to investment in agro food processing, life sciences, human resources, textiles, minerals, petro chemicals, automobiles, energy, leather technology, chemicals, aerospace, apparels and other important sectors. He told them that the government had taken up the task of providing road and air connectivity to every part of the city and assured uninterrupted power supply to the industrial sector.

Naidu said that Andhra Pradesh, like Netherlands, is also focusing on agri-based exports and urged them to introduce technology in agriculture and develop the State on par with Netherlands.

Also briefed them about the government’s plans to promote waterways in the State like in Netherlands and expressed confidence that the waterways would be of great advantage for the Dutch to park their investments in the State.

The CM further told them that the government had initiated steps to spread e-marketing in the State and the food products of the Self-Help Groups would be put on e-marketing with the support of the e-marketing firms. The government had already held talks with Amazon, Flipkart, Big Basket, Snapdeal and other companies to provide e-marketing for SHG products.

Chandrababu said that the government would establish a special network to handle investments in the State and it would coordinate with every country and every investor, he said.

The AP Economic Development Board chairman P V Ramesh, State Finance Commission vice-chairman Kutumba Rao, Industries secretary Ravat, ports director Ravikumar, mining director Girija Shankar, were also present at the meeting.