Naidu rolls out red carpet to IT companies

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu invited information technology (IT) companies to his state, promising them friendly IT eco-system and all support.

At a meeting with members of executive council of Nasscom, the apex body of IT industry in the country, he shared his vision, policy and plans and urged the IT firms to explore vast opportunities in the state.

As someone who put Hyderabad on the global IT map when he was chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh for nearly a decade (1995-2004), Naidu tried to revive his old contacts.

"They are my old friends. We worked together and with their support, Hyderabad came to this stage. We built Hyderabad step by step and brick by brick," said Naidu while claiming that it was he brought Microsoft and other multinationals to the city.

He was confident that cities in Andhra Pradesh, beginning with Visakhaptanam, will soon show rapid growth and become the most attractive and highly preferred IT destinations.

Naidu said the state is poised towards creating a benchmark in IT, electronics and communication technology and innovation as it is endowed with high quality state-of-the-art infrastructure, skilled human resources, and business-friendly policies.

"There was nothing in Hyderabad when we started," he quipped when asked whether lack of infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh will not be a hurdle in promoting IT sector.

The chief minister said his government will promote the IT sector and invite investment by organizing conferences in various countries and different parts of India. "We have announced a policy and we are creating infrastructure. We will encourage whoever wants to come and set up their operations," said Naidu.

The Technology Research and Incubation Park (TRIP) will be launched in Visakhapatnam on Sep 29, he said.

Apart from IT and IT enabled services, Visakhapatnam will also be home to electronics and hardware manufacturing, and will be a hub for research, incubation and entrepreneurship, he said.

He pointed out that Mahindra Satyam and Wipro have already announced their plans to set up operations in the coastal city.

Nasscom vice chairman B.V.R. Mohan Reddy said they held separate sessions with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

While Telangana has developed infrastructure and its Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao discussed how to take it further, Andhra Pradesh which is starting from ground zero was keen to invite investment, offering various incentives.

"We feel reassured. The past is past. Future looks bright. We have two states who want every IT company to come," said Reddy, who believes people of the two states will be ultimate beneficiary.