00:21ICC was kind enough to have me here and this invitation started, was given to me, extended
00:27to me when the previous government was in West Bengal.
00:31Yesterday, I had the great opportunity to meet the Honorable Chief Minister, Sindhuji.
00:36We spent a good amount of time and I was just amazed with the kind of energy the Honorable
00:41Chief Minister had and I realized that now Andhra Pradesh has a new state also to compete
00:46with which is West Bengal.
00:49Saying that Andhra Pradesh is always open to doing business, I believe that when states
00:54compete, India wins.
00:56I believe that India's growth story is just starting off, it's just about unlocking and
01:01states like Andhra have to lead that growth story from the front.
01:05While the Honorable Prime Minister Shinarendra Mudiji is opening up the entire regulatory framework,
01:11is deregulating various sectors, areas, but central government obviously can bring in the
01:18frameworks and the policies but the execution happens at the state level.
01:23So what makes it very exciting for states like Andhra is to lead from the front, be part
01:28of the entire reform cycle and that's what we've done across.
01:32Naiduji is now in his worship 4.0, this is his fourth term as the Chief Minister.
01:37He brings the same energy but he's also backed with a very young team, 50% of our MLAs are
01:42first-timers, 17 out of 25 ministers are first-timers.
01:45So we bring a lot of energy, fashion and that is why we're able to attract 25% of the
01:51investments
01:51coming into, investments being made in India to the great state of Andhra Pradesh.
01:56And I believe this is just the beginning and I know my Chief Minister is not exactly happy
02:00with our performance, he'll be happy when we have 50% of the investments coming to Andhra Pradesh.
02:04We're here to compete, I believe when states compete India wins, Bharat wins and I believe
02:09that Andhra Pradesh should lead the game.
02:11So as part of that journey I'm here, I'm meeting with entrepreneurs, industries, second,
02:15third generation entrepreneurs who are really excited about growing the business.
02:19Few of them have already made investments in Andhra Pradesh looking at expanding, quite a few
02:23of them are looking at expanding to Andhra Pradesh.
02:27So I believe that this is the beginning of a great relationship and a journey between
02:31West Bengal and the great state of Andhra.
02:34Sir, do you think that this time...
02:36Any discussions on all the collaborative approach as far as the investment opportunities
02:42are concerned between Andhra and West Bengal?
02:45Absolutely.
02:46The Honorable Chief Minister was very open and we exchanged notes on welfare development
02:52projects that's happening in the two great states.
02:55And there are specific areas that we thought we can work together, even starting with ACWA
03:00and few other sectors where even Andhra entrepreneurs are looking at expanding.
03:05And sir said, you know, he'll provide a nice sort of landing pad here in the great state
03:10of West Bengal.
03:11Apart from that, I requested the Honorable CM to give land so that we can build Lord Balaji's
03:17temple here.
03:17And sir was very kind enough.
03:19He jumped at it and said, done, send your team over, let's do it.
03:23In August, I'll come and do Darshan.
03:25And then we will definitely take that project forward.
03:27So there's a lot of energy.
03:29We exchanged ideas around industrial policy, land pooling policy, and land acquisition policy,
03:35how Andhra is able to acquire land.
03:37He really wanted us to share notes.
03:40And differently, there's a lot that we can learn from West Bengal.
03:43And we agreed to remain in touch and exchange ideas on a real-time basis.
03:48And honestly, our CM is available on WhatsApp real-time.
03:51So I'm scared to leave him a message because 10 minutes later, I get a reply from him.
03:55It's a very hyper chief minister.
03:56Sir, do you think that Bengal right now, with the new government coming, it is quite conducive
04:04to have business over here than the previous government?
04:07Or did you try to have any business talk with the previous government with no hopes at all?
04:12See, honestly, my interaction with the previous administration was zero.
04:18But since the new government and India government has come here in the great state of Bengal,
04:24definitely there's renewed energy.
04:26Talking to the entrepreneurs, second, third, fourth generation entrepreneurs,
04:29there's renewed energy, commitment.
04:31And I had the opportunity to meet the CM.
04:34And the sheer energy and the passion he had to learn and learn from the best practices
04:38across the country really truly amazed me.
04:42It was very, it was an humbling experience for a minister from Bangladesh
04:46that how open we should also be to ideas.
04:49And the CM is willing to take feedback, ideas and the kind of questions he has.
04:53Is it like this that you did not show any interest in doing business with the previous government
04:58or this is the thing that with this double, double engine,
05:02you are more interested in having a conversation with CM Shubendo Odhikari?
05:08See, double engines are cars are very clear.
05:11India in the central government, India in the state is the only way
05:14that states and the nation can be developed.
05:17No second thoughts about it.
05:18And I believe that's the right movement.
05:20Because earlier, with all fairness, policies would not go forward.
05:23Welfare also was scuttled.
05:25So, there were various other challenges.
05:27You know, I truly believe the environment is conducive.
05:30There's a lot more willingness to learn from each other.
05:34And being an India state, it's obviously easier to work with than another India state.
05:38So, you know, honestly, while states have double engine sarcas,
05:41I believe Andhra Pradesh has double engine bullet train sarcas.
05:44So, Namo in the rest of India is Narendra Modi ji.
05:47Namo in Andhra Pradesh is Naidu ji and Modi ji ka judi.
05:51So, I think that there's a lot that we can learn from other states.
05:53So, I'm going to do keep it again.
05:54Now there are places that 친구ji can do something else.
05:54so I think that we're going to have to run a lot from this world.
05:54It's hard.
05:54Now, thanks, Don.
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