Will make Hyderabad top startup choice, says KT Rama Rao

HYDERABAD: Information Technology minister K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday vowed to make Hyderabad one of the top startup destinations in the world. He said that youngsters from Telangana are making their mark in IT world and T-Hub provided a launchpad for such brilliant minds. Mr Rama Rao was speaking at a programme to mark the first anniversary of T-Hub, his brainchild, the fastest growing startup engine in the country.

“Very soon we are going to lay foundation stone for T-Hub phase-2. The aim is to give an impetus to more new innovations, especially rural innovations,” he said. Mr Rama Rao said, “There were many questions about how we will create a mark in the startup world when T-Hub was established a year back. But looking at what we have achieved makes me proud. Today the world wants to connect with Hyderabad, and know about investments. Through T-Bridge we will access and bring the best to you to scale up the ladder and make the city one of the top startup cities in the world.”

The event witnessed signing of six MoUs with several strategic partners, corporate partners besides announcement of partnership programmes. Among those present were T-Hub Board of Directors, IT secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Cyient executive chairman B.V.R. Mohan Reddy and Peepul Capital MD and founder Srini Raju as well as T-Hub COO Srinivas Kollipara and CEO Jay Krishnan.

Pharma city project makes some headway:

The TS government's ambitious Pharma City project made some headway on Saturday. Industries minister K.T. Rama Rao held a meeting with consultants from Singapore-based Surbana Jarong and senior officials of his department after which he declared that the project will be of international standards.

New TSIIC chairman G. Balamallu also took part in the meeting. The consultants briefed the minister on the designs and plans for the project, which will be shown to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao later. Disclosing details, Mr Rama Rao said that the Phama City will have an airstrip for flights. “It will have transport connectivity through rail, road and air,” he said, adding that the master plan for the prestigious industrial project will be readied in the near future.

“In the meanwhile, steps are being taken for land acquisition,” the minister said. Also, Pharma City will be connected with State and National Highways besides the Outer Ring Road and Regional Ring Road, he said. Meanwhile, Mr Rama Rao directed industries department officials to ensure Protocol for the new chairman. He told them to utilise the good offices of Mr Balamallu in land acquisition task since he has good contacts with people in the right places.