U.S. keen to boost business ties with Indian state (Andhra Pradesh)
Wednesday November 3, 12:16 pm Eastern Time
HYDERABAD, India, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United States is interested in strengthening business ties with the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, the U.S. envoy to India, Richard Celeste, said on Wednesday.
``Your Vision 2020 (statement) for Andhra Pradesh has attracted attention in the United States,' Celeste said, referring to a policy statement prepared by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Naidu has won international attention with a drive to attract foreign investment to his predominantly farming state of 70 million people.
Microsoft Corp has set up a software development centre -- its second outside the United States -- in state capital Hyderabad.
U.S. investors and entrepreneurs are eager to do business with Andhra Pradesh, given the business potential of the state, Celeste said.
The ambassador and a 20-member business delegation were visiting the state to explore possibilities for investment and collaboration in joint ventures in various sectors.
Celeste added the United States is planning to open a foreign commercial office in the state.
Currently, there are seven such offices in New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore, Ahmedabad in the western India state of Gujarat and Pune in neighbouring Maharashtra.
Naidu said as of November 1, U.S. investment in the state was around 27.53 billion rupees ($635 million).
($1 equals 43.4 rupees)
biz.yahoo.com |
