AP inks MoU with Western OZ govt

​New Delhi: The AP government entered into an MoU with the representatives of Western Australia government here on Friday to extend cooperation in the fields of industry and commerce, education, science and technology and research and for cultural exchanges.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Sean Kelly, Consul-General of Australia and Mike Nehan, Treasurer of Western Australian government.

The two-hour meeting held here at AP Bhavan, where the MoU was signed, marked a new high in the cooperation between AP and Western Australian government.

Promoting the concept of the Sun Rise State, Naidu explained the salient points of his industrial policy and the measures and policies adopted by the AP Government to attract investments from foreign countries.

Listing out the policies, he explained that the new policy offered 100 per cent exemption of stamp duty, 24x7 power supply, 100 per cent variable tax and central sales tax reimbursement.

The AP Government had given special powers to the commissioner of industries to override all objections raised by the district-level administration and accord permission to industries in 21 days, he said.

Chandrababu also promised special industrial incentives for those who want to set up shop in the capital region.

The new industrial policy assured improved infrastructure, good governance and excellent power supply to the developers.

According to the new industrial policy, agro & food processing, life sciences (including pharmaceutical, biotechnology & medical equipment), textile & apparel, electronics & IT, aerospace & defence, automobiles & auto components, petroleum, chemicals,

(including fertilizers) and petrochemicals, energy, mineral-based industry, leather industries are identified as thrust areas. Land would be allotted on 99-year lease, he said.