Andhra steals march over TN

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy is expected to lay the foundation stone for the Adidas shoe manufacturing facility on February 25, 2005, marking the quickest-ever processing of an application for any private project by the government.

The unit is being set up by Singapore-based Apache Investment Holdings Private Limited at Mambattu in Tada mandal of Nellore district

Pulling a last minute surprise on Tamil Nadu, which was the prime contender for the Rs 500-crore investment from Apache, the Andhra Pradesh government signed an MoU with the company in the first week of this month providing over 315 acres of land besides other facilities required for setting up of the project.

"We are working to complete all the formalities, besides securing the SEZ status for the project well within the time to enable the company to go ahead with the foundation laying ceremony on February 25," a senior government official told Business Standard.

Besides offering the land free, the government has also agreed to pay Rs 12,000 per person towards training requirements. The 2-million capacity shoe manufacturing plant is expected to provide employment to 30,000 workers.