HYDERABAD: Chairman of IT major Wipro, Azim Premji, on Sunday called on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao here separately. During his meetings with Naidu and KCR, Premji is learnt to have expressed his willingness to help both States develop on the IT front.
First, the Wipro boss called on AP Chief Minister Naidu at the latter’s residence here. According to sources, Naidu requested Premji to expand Wipro operations in AP.
According to AP IT Minister Palle Raghunadha Reddy, the government on Sunday granted ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) to Wipro to develop the SEZ in Visakhapatnam soon after Premji’s meeting with Naidu.
Raghunath Reddy disclosed that Wipro was allotted about 7.14 acres in 2004-05 by the erstwhile AP government, in Visakhapatnam, with an employment commitment of 2,500. Out of this, the company utilised four acres for the construction of two lakh sft of space where about 650 professionals are working now.
“Wipro chairman Azim Premji today requested CM Naidu to grant NOC to develop the remaining 3.1 acres in Visakhapatnam. The CM has agreed to this,” he said.
According to the minister, Wipro would construct an office with 5 lakh sft space at Visakhapatnam and create employment for 6,400 people over the next five years.
Premji had also shown interest in setting up a soap and fatty acid manufacturing plant near Hindupur in Anantapur district.
Premji requested the chief minister to allot 50 acres. Wipro would invest about Rs 500 crore in this project.
Raghunatha Reddy said Wipro would also set up a primary education training institute for teachers and an institute for training technicians in using medical devices such as CT scan, MRI and ultrasound.
Similarly, the company would undertake Anganwadi training and awareness programmes in healthcare and women and child welfare schemes across the state.
The minister said other IT majors such as TechMahindra, Infosys and Sameer are also showing interest to set up branches in AP.
“Naidu had requested Premji to expand his company’s operations to other parts in the state such as Tirupati, Vijayawada and Kakinada. The chief minister also urged Premji to offer graduate and postgraduate programmes through his foundation to the students of AP and subsequently absorb them into his organisation,” Reddy disclosed.
Premji later called on Telangana Chief Minister KCR at his camp office here.
During the meeting, Premji is understood to have promised the TS Chief Minister that he would expand his company’s operations in Telangana.
When the Wipro chairman expressed this intention, KCR explained to Premji how his government is taking steps to formulate a single window policy to give quick clearances for setting up industries.
The Chief Minister also recalled his efforts to set up a special ‘chasing cell’ in his office to follow up the proposals made by industrialists to set up new industries.
“I am sure Telangana will be most-sought after destination for the top-rated national and international companies to set up their companies here in the coming days. Our government is firm on making Hyderabad a No 1 city in the IT sector. We are also transforming the city into a city of 4G wi-fi services,” KCR was quoted as saying.
Stating that his government is in the process of finalising the State’s industrial policy, the TS Chief Minister told Premji that he would once again hold talks with him to set up new IT parks across the State after formulating the industrial policy. TS IT Minister KT Rama Rao and Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao were also present at the meeting.
Proposals for AP
SEZ in Visakhapatnam to create 6,400 jobs over the next five years
Soap and fatty acid manufacturing plant with an investment of Rs 500 cr near Hindupur in Anantapur district
Primary education training institute for teachers and also an institute for training technicians in the use of medical devices
For Telangana
Premji promised
Telangana Chief Minister KCR that he would expand his company’s business in the new state
Premji was told how the Telangana government is taking steps to formulate a single window system to give quick clearance for establishing industries