SINGAPORE: After holding talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong here on Friday, the visiting Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced the appointment of a new "nodal minister" to liaise with this City-State.

The Chief Minister said Industries Minister Geeta Reddy will also be the "Minister for Singapore Affairs to attract more investments" from the City-State.

During the question-answer session of a seminar organised by the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI), Mr. Reddy indicated that he was taking a leaf out of the City-State's own book on engaging India by turning the focus on States such as Andhra Pradesh and a few others. The "Singapore-specific" portfolio was particularly relevant to the investor-friendly political climate in Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Nodal agency

The State had already set up a nodal agency and introduced the systems of single window clearance and industry-specific "escort officers" to attract foreign investments. About the acquisition of land for special economic zones, he said: "The recent West Bengal experience cannot and will not happen in Andhra Pradesh."

About his talks with the Singapore leaders, Mr. Reddy said they sounded a "very positive" note on India as a whole. His impression was that they "are very keen to make Andhra Pradesh one of their investment areas."

Separately, a Singapore official commented that Prime Minister Lee "welcomed more cooperation" between Andhra Pradesh and the City-State. Mr. Reddy, it was noted, invited Singapore companies to invest in such sectors as port development, other infrastructure aspects, and manufacturing. Mr. Goh and Mr. Reddy exchanged views on "recent economic developments" in the State.

India's High Commissioner to Singapore, S. Jaishankar, Deputy High Commissioner Rajesh Sachdeva, and First Secretary C. Rajendiran assisted the Chief Minister during these talks.

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