Naidu keen on German automobile technology in AP

AP CM meets slew of European companies in Zurich; Stadler, which specialises in producing coach bodies with aluminium, plans manufacturing hub in Vizag
CM N Chandrababu Naidu on his way to Davos in Switzerland on Monday |  express photo
CM N Chandrababu Naidu on his way to Davos in Switzerland on Monday | express photo

VIJAYAWADA: Stadler Rail Management AG, a Swiss manufacturer of railway rolling stock, has expressed willingness to set up its manufacturing unit in Visakhapatnam. During discussions with the Swiss company representatives in Zurich on Monday, the first day of his visit to Davos for participating in the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual conference, AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu invited Stadler Rail Management AG to set up its unit in the state.

The company representatives informed Naidu they were studying various aspects that favour the company in Visakhapatnam. It already has a unit at Kanchrapara in West Bengal and has been contemplating a second unit in India. The US $ 2.2 billion company has several production sites across Europe and has been planning to start its unit even in the United States. It also specialises in producing coach bodies with aluminium. The company executive vice-president (marketing and sales) Peter Jenelten informed the Chief Minister that they were looking at land, logistics, tax structures and technological human resources as main criteria for setting up their unit. He said apart from investment, they would be creating 3,000 jobs.

Chandrababu Naidu explained to Jenelten and others that Visakhapatnam suits their requirement and invited them to invest.  The company invited him to visit the Stadler Rail Management factory to which he agreed. Later, Chief Minister’s delegation had a bilateral meeting with the Germany-based European Education and Research Council. It was founded by Vangapandu Venkata Nagaraju, who hails from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. The organisation’s representatives informed Naidu of their plans to integrate research in educational institutions with industry.

The Chief Minister told the representatives of the organisation that he was keen on bringing German technology to Andhra Pradesh, especially in the automobile sector. He advised them to network with Sri Venkateswara, Andhra and Acharya Nagarjuna universities in Andhra Pradesh. The third meeting of the Chief Minister in Zurich was with Baumgarte Company from Germany.  It specialises in producing energy from waste and building boiler systems. The company assured the CM of technical expertise to AP. The fourth meeting was with Trittec company that makes mosquito nets and meshes. It showed interest in setting up a unit in AP.  It sought 5000 sq meter of land for setting up the production unit and from there it wants to export its products to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Chandrababu Naidu also held discussions with University of St Gallen, BKW Energie AG, Gherzi Corporation, Ratakonda Energy Systems. University of St Gallen proposed to collaborate with AP and make it a testing lab for its technologies.

The Chief Minister expressed interest in collaboration with BKW Energie AG, which specialises in energy sector. Gherzi Corporation, which specialises in blood plasma fraction was also asked to come up with clear proposals to share its technologies. It plans to invest to the tune of Rs 2000 crore.  Ratakonda Energy Systems, started by Ratakonda Subramanyam, who hails from Kadapa and settled in Germany, explained its plans to set up a 50 MW project in the State. It has several solar power plants in Germany.

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