Visakhapatnam, Jan 17 (PTI) The Andhra Pradeshgovernment has been encouraging women entrepreneurs in a bigway as they are a key to economic development of the state,Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said today.
"Women entrepreneurs are a key to economicdevelopment. It is everyone responsibility to encourage womenfor their economic development," he said.
Naidu was speaking after inaugurating a three-dayinternational conference on "Innovation, incubation andindustrialisation" organised by the Association of LadyEntrepreneurs of India here.
The Chief Minister said his government had encouragedwomen entrepreneurs in the state two decades ago byestablishing self-help groups (SHGs).
Naidu served as the Chief Minister of united AndhraPradesh from 1994 to 2004.
There were 90 lakh women members in these SHGs who areworking with confidence and determination to improve thefinancial condition of their families, he said.
Women are doing extremely well in the field ofinformation technology, where their productivity is more thanthat of their male counterparts, Naidu said.
Naidu said his government has taken a slew of stepsfor the industrial development in the state.
Andhra Pradesh is No. 1 in the ease of doing businessranking. Industrial proposals are being cleared within 21days, the Chief Minister said.
He said the government has decided to establishindustrial hubs in all the 175 Assembly segments in the statewith a view to encourage entrepreneurship.
Naidu said the government had sanctioned 5 acres ofland for setting up an industrial park for women entrepreneursin Visakhapatnam.
Andhra Pradesh enjoys a lot of advantages like a longcoastline, good rail, road and air connectivity, which areimportant for industrial growth.
The state has seven to eight ports and the governmenthas decided to develop another six ports and two new airports,he said.
Binoy Kumar, Special Secretary (logistics and worldexpo), at the Union Ministry of Commence and Industry, saidthe Centre has been encouraging the logistics sector in a bigway as it has the potential to generate large-scale jobs.
Delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, SriLanka, Nepal and Afghanistan besides representatives from theAndhra Pradesh government and women entrepreneurs areattending the conference. PTI CORRSY.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.