A British delegation has called on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and expressed interest in establishing a ‘British Deputy High Commissionerate’ in the state capital.
The delegation, under the chairmanship of UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Jereme Browne, met Mr Reddy at the Andhra Pradesh Assembly yesterday.
Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner in Southern India, was also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said AP is the best destination for investments and assured all cooperation from the state government.
The recently concluded Partnership Summit-2012 was very successful and MoUs were signed for Rs 6.48 lakh crore investment proposals which will provide 6.70 lakh jobs, Mr Reddy claimed.
The Industrial Friendly Policy of the state government provides cheapest power tariff and tax concessions to the industries, he added.
Mr Browne, who is on his first visit to Hyderabad, reiterated the UK’s commitment to build a stronger, wider and deeper partnership with India, including in key states such as Andhra Pradesh.
The MP was delighted at the ‘strong and growing links’ that UK had with AP in trade, investment, education and research.
UK was keen to bring a high-level delegation to the Convention on Bio-Diversity that will be hosted in Hyderabad in October, 2012, he added.
Mr Browne was pleased to see British investments in AP such as British Petroleum, HSBC and 3i and also to see major investors from AP, such as Dr Reddy’s Laboratories in the UK.
He also referred to the academic and research partnership that the University of Cambridge, Imperial College, Queen’s University Belfast and others have with institutions in Hyderabad.
Speaking about his tour of the South Indian cities of Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad this week, the Minister said, ”I am delighted to be returning to India and visiting three of the great cities of the South – all locations where the UK will be investing more effort and attention in the coming years.
This shows the importance UK attributes to these dynamic growth regions. My visit symbolises the growing partnership between our two nations – a partnership founded on mutual respect, common interest, and ambition for the future,” he added.
–UNI