The Andhra Pradesh government and a business delegation from Australia yesterday discussed bilateral cooperation in mining sector and also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Parliamentary Secretary to Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment, Steven Ciobo, who led the delegation, met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Hyderabad today.
“During the meeting, an MoU was signed between AP Mining Development Corp (APMDC) and NSL Mining Resources India Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of Australia’s NSL Consolidated Ltd) for benefaction of low-grade iron ore from reserves in Kurnool and Kadapa districts,” a government release said in Hyderabad.
After signing the MoU, the Chief Minister and Ciobo discussed areas of collaboration in infrastructure, mining, agro-processing, fisheries, skill development, financial services and opportunities in the new capital region.
The visiting delegation comprised businessmen and industrialists from the areas of financial sector, energy, pharmaceutical, food-processing and infrastructure.
Mr Naidu briefed the team members about the advantages of doing business in Andhra Pradesh and highlighted common areas of collaboration.
Asked by a delegate about the three priority areas of his government, Naidu named infrastructure development (airports, ports, roads, inland waterways and inter-linking of rivers), skill development (to build capacities) and to develop a world-class capital city.
Another delegate enquired about Andhra Pradesh’s higher education plans and the Chief Minister replied that the state is working to collaborate with international universities for student-exchange programmes and internships.
Answering to another query on healthcare, Mr Naidu said he plans to make Andhra Pradesh a medical tourism hub and also explained that port city of Visakhapatnam has a good pharmaceutical industry base.
The Chief Minister invited Australian delegates to take part in ‘Sunrise AP Global Investment Summit’ to be held in October in Visakhapatnam.
Ciobo invited the Chief Minister and his team to visit Australia to understand their expertise and sign agreements based on Andhra Pradesh’s interest and requirement.