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Lokesh invites investors to make AP 1-trillion economy with 20 lakh new jobs

Vijayawada: Education, IT and electronics minister Nara Lokesh on Saturday invited investors into AP, so that the fastest-growing Andhra Pradesh could become a one-trillion economy within the next five years.

“This will enable us to fulfil our goal of creating 20 lakh jobs in the state, as promised by the Telugu Desam-led NDA alliance government in its election manifesto,” Lokesh underlined while addressing the Southern Region Council seminar of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Vijayawada.

The minister not only promised to create all the necessary infrastructure, but also provide incentives, along with the necessary ecosystem like a consultative forum and a separate wing of the Economic Development Board (EDB), so that investors can directly get in touch with the government to resolve their problems.

He emphasised that the state government will issue the necessary GO for formation of the body within a week. “Governments may change, but governance is permanent. Successive dispensations must continue the good work in the interests of the state,” he maintained.

The minister regretted that the decision of the previous government to revoke the power purchase agreements not only caused losses to the state but also the country. "The consultative forum is being set up to ensure that in future, such things do recur,” he stated.

Lokesh said almost all participants in the seminar have responded positively and expressed their willingness to invest heavily in the state. He promised to revive the Economic Development Board, set up by the earlier TDP government, so that investors who had earlier set up their units in AP could get the required incentives. He regretted that the EDB had been dissolved by the YSRC government.

"Those who had earlier worked with the EDB but moved to other states are all ready to come back to the state. A young IAS officer has already been appointed as its chief executive officer to coordinate with the investors," the minister revealed.
He interacted with participants in the seminar and answered all their questions. He appreciated the suggestions made by them for developing the state.

Earlier, AP chief secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad told investors how AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has redefined PPP as 4Ps – Public, Private, People’s Partnership – wherein people play the key role in overall development of the state.


( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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