The Government of Andhra Pradesh, National University of Singapore, and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) have inked an MoU in Singapore to work on “Ease of Doing Business in AP.”
The Memorandum of Understanding signed between NUS (acting through the Asian Competitiveness Institute at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy), AP and CII is for cooperation in relation to “Masterplan on Ease of Doing Business in Andhra Pradesh (MEDBAP): Vision 2020” and other related activities.
The duration of the MoU is from April 1st, 2015 to March 31st, 2018.
As part of the tripartite MoU, the parties will collaborate in conducting joint-research programmes on interesting issues such as strategies and assessment on ease of doing business and enhancement of economic competitiveness.
This MoU will also enable them to identify and establish common interests and cooperative opportunities between the Andhra Pradesh and private sector investors, (both local and foreign).
The following factors will be considered to assess business friendliness: Starting a business; Dealing with construction permits; Getting electricity; Land acquisition and registration of property; Getting credit; Protecting minority interests; Paying taxes; Trading across borders; Enforcing contracts; Resolving insolvency and Labor market regulations.
The MoU also envisages regular visits of delegations through exchange of ideas and research strategies formulation, holding joint seminars where NUS and AP assess and update their progress on the project.
Asian Competitiveness Institute at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy will be utilized as a platform for investment research, to study economic situations and investment opportunities in AP and ASEAN, China.
This will also help promote joint-research output through various channels in India, Singapore and other ASEAN economies. The parties will also prepare a joint Annual Progress Report (“APR”) summarizing and detailing the activities and any research output.
The MoU enabled NUS and AP will exchange lot of ideas in the form of field trips to meet national/local think-tanks and officials of Andhra Pradesh,
Field trip visits by ACI staff to meet think-tanks, senior national and local government officials in India, host seminars in Singapore at ACI-Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy or in India in AP annually.
After signing the MoU, the Chief Minister said that “this will strengthen our relations with Singapore and spring up many innovative ideas and lead to cultural exchange between the two countries.”
“Let us be partners in development and work together to bring the best brains forward in building a happy, healthy and prosperous Sunrise Andhra Pradesh,” the Chief Minister said.
The MoU was signed by Dr Tan Khee Giap, Co-Director, Asia Competitiveness Institute, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore and on behalf of the Government of Andhra Pradesh by Shamsher Singh Rawat, IAS, Secretary & CIP, Department of industries & Commerce. (INN)