IndiaPost.com - YSR showcases AP for investemnt

India Post News Service

SAN JOSE: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy or YSR, as he is popularly known in India, swung through the Bay Area as part of a weeklong whirlwind tour of US and Singapore. The focus of his visit was agriculture, information technology and investment promotion. After his arrival in Chicago on May 6, he attended a number of Telegu association programs there and in St. Louis. He inaugurated the World Agriculture Conference 2007 on May 8 and then reached California. On May 9, Dr Reddy had a full day.

He was the keynote speaker at the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Economic Forum meet in Santa Clara where he talked about economic development needs and opportunities in Andhra Pradesh and connected with CEOs of Silicon Valley IT and semiconductor companies. He then flew to Sacramento to meet with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and subsequently was back in the Bay Area (San Jose) for an event with Lt. Governor John Garamendi followed by a dinner and felicitation program with the Bay Area Telegu Association (BATA). The next day he left for Singapore after the signing of a MoU between Stanford University, Andhra Pradesh government and EMRI, a Hyderabad based non-profit group to train India’s new corps of paramedics.

Talk about a grueling schedule! At the May 9 event with Lieutenant Governor of California, John Garamendi, in the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, Dr Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh and California have a lot of similarities- agriculture, horticulture and chips (IT industry). He also said that every fourth Indian in California is from Andhra Pradesh. While mentioning that "today we had a good meeting with Governor Schwarzenegger and (are) hopeful that he will visit end of the year", he said, "I would like to invite the Lt. Governor to combine synergies".

While growth of Indian exports has been a not inconsiderable 35 percent, Andhra Pradesh exports grew at a scorching 56 percent. According to him, a recent World Bank survey ranked Hyderabad as one of the best destinations for business setup. Industrial power tariffs are the lowest in India and the state has good water and power quality along with good connectivity. He invited companies to come to India and Andhra Pradesh. Dr Reddy also presented Lt. Governor John Garamendi with a handicraft token on behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh who thanked him and said "the state of Andhra Pradesh has a lot of talents- agriculture, IT and handicrafts".

After that, the chief minister had the shortest travel time between two events on that day- the next event was one floor up in the Fairmont where he was welcomed traditionally by chanting and flowers. Hosted by Jayaram Komati, owner of the Swagat restaurants and organized by the Bay Area Telegu Association (BATA), the felicitation dinner program in the ballroom was thronged by various dignitaries and BATA associates. The Consul General of India San Francisco, BS Prakash, gave a welcome speech after the program was opened by Vijaya Aasuri, the emcee for the evening. Gopal Reddy Gade, former ATA president, said that YSR is a political celebrity and he has come to capture the hearts of the people. B. Ramalingam Raju, Chairman Satyam Computers, spoke about the people present and said that most of us are active participants in the new knowledge economy.

The biggest chunk of the global economy is in services and has given opportunities to India and particularly Andhra Pradesh. Dr Reddy was the first to recognize the need for health care- by the end of this month; you could dial 108 to access health services (equivalent of 911 calls). Dr Romesh Japra, President of the Federation of Indian Associations, said that India and Indians had and will continue to shine. Dr Reddy had made various promises to the people of Andhra Pradesh and he has lived up to his promises. Other dignitaries present included Dharampal Singh Malik, MLA, and ex-MP, visiting from Haryana, Prabhat K Singh (Consul, Community Affairs), Shailendra K. Joshi, Secretary Information Technology and Communications. Dr Reddy said that he is proud of the fact that he has kept the pre-election promises he made.

One of the promises he made was ‘free power to farmers’ and he has provided that and will keep on doing so while he is in power. Andhra Pradesh charges the lowest power tariffs in the country. The government has spent Rs 13,000 crores till now on irrigation and plans to spend Rs 1 lakh crores eventually. With the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the central Government guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a year to every rural household in 200 districts across the country. He said that the Dwarka women groups have been helped with small loans at low interest and the government has verified that.

He also said that Adidas will be bringing 2000 jobs to Nellore district in the first year with an eventual total of 20,000 jobs. According to him, the government, before this, used to concentrate on IT only. He is trying to make sure that the farmers are taken care of as well as IT. Last but not the least, he asked the predominantly Telegu population to think of their village and help them in whatever way they could. When asked his opinion, Madhu who hails from the same town (Pulivendula) as the chief minister, said that "YSR is really good and I’m sure that he is doing a lot for the farmers".