Japan's telecommunications and Internet giant SoftBank Corp today said it is interested in collaborating with the Andhra Pradesh government in the renewable energy sector.
SoftBank Chairman & CEO Masayoshi Son said this during a high-level meeting with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu here wherein SoftBank Corp President Nikesh Arora and Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal too were present.
This is Son's courtesy visit to meet the Chief Minister following their meeting last year in Japan. During the meeting, Son said, "I am happy to be here. I am confident that we will work well," according to an official release.
The Chief Minister informed Son that AP has unveiled solar and wind policies, that allow solar and wind hybrid model projects and also told him "we want to work transparently".
He sought SoftBank's collaboration in renewable energy to make the future sustainable. "I am aware of your future plans for which you think big. We need your support in working on socially responsible programmes and in a sustainable way," Naidu said.
Replying to this, Son said that SoftBank will work to make Andhra Pradesh a model state for the country in solar plus wind hybrid projects in the country.
"These projects will not only boost the economy but also provide employment to people. The reason SoftBank is focusing on renewable energy is because we believe we need to be responsible for our future generations without relying completely on non-renewable energy," Son said.
During the meeting, Son explained that SoftBank has formed a joint venture with India's Bharti Enterprises to make investments in renewable energy sector here.
India can become probably the largest country for solar energy, he said.
Son said that he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday and promised to make USD 20 billion investments in solar and wind energy projects in the country over the next 10 years.
