CM all set to woo more new age firms to Andhra

To hold second big meeting with industry captains outside Andhra

As part of the state government's concerted efforts to woo new investments, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy is slated to have one-to-one meetings with the CEOs of several top ranking IT, hardware, biotech, pharma and manufacturing companies at Bangalore on 2 September, 2004.

The list includes the representatives of the $172-billion automobile giant, DaimlerChrysler Research and Tech(I) Private Limited, besides Wipro's Azim Premji and Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy.

This would be the second big meeting of the chief minister with the industry captains outside Andhra Pradesh. Earlier last month, he met several industry honchos in Mumbai including Mukesh Ambani of Reliance, wherein some companies had shown interest in setting up operations in Andhra Pradesh.

The trip is a clear indication that, notwithstanding the proclaimed pro-farmer priorities of his government, Rajasekhara Reddy is leaving no stone unturned to woo industries to invest in the state. The chief minister had in the recent past held separate meetings with the industrialists from Andhra Pradesh and also with IT companies.

Interestingly, except IBM, Wipro and Infosys, all the other companies which have been chosen for the one-on-one meetings with the chief minister have so far no presence in Andhra Pradesh.

These companies include Philips Software Centre limited, MTR, ABB, Biocon India Limited, Texas Instruments India Private Limited, AT&S, Strand Genomics Private Limited, Avestha Gengraine, Himalaya Drug Company, Seimens VDO limited.

According to preliminary information Avestha, Strand Genomics, Biocon, and ABB are expected to disclose their future plans for the state during the one-to-one meetings with the chief minister.

YSR will be in Bangalore to inaugurate the Summit on Infrastructure (Suminfra-2004) covering the four southern states along with Pondicherry scheduled on September 2, which is being organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He will give a special address at the inaugural session of Suminfra on Thursday morning before proceeding for the day-long one-to-one meetings with heads and representatives of about fifteen companies.

Karnataka chief minister Dharam Singh is hosting a dinner in honour of Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday evening. About 20 CEOs are expected to attend the dinner. The Andhra Pradesh government is hosting lunch for the participants of Suminfra on Thursday.