Speech By Minister S Iswaran At The CII Partnership Summit

SPEECH BY MR S ISWARAN, MINISTER FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY (INDUSTRY), AT THE CII PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT ON 26 FEBRUARY 2018, 2.30PM IN VIZAG, ANDHRA PRADESH

Your Excellency, Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, Shri Narasimhan,

Your Excellency, Vice President of Mauritius,

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Chandrababu Naidu,

Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu,

Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Ashok Gajapathy Raju,

1       Let me first congratulate the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for another successful Partnership Summit. 

2       I would like to thank CII for the invitation to me and the delegation from Singapore to participate in this conference.  The strong participation and response is testament to its importance and relevance to the business community.

3       Singapore’s participation in this Conference, and our bilateral cooperation with Andhra Pradesh, is part of our strong and growing political, business and people-to-people ties with India.

MOUs

4       Singapore and Andhra Pradesh has been working closely as partners over the last few years on the development of the new Capital City, Amaravati. Today, I am delighted that we are bringing our relationship to another level and step forward through the two MOUs that we have just concluded to widen the economic collaboration. 

5       Firstly, an MOU between CII and the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) to form the Andhra Pradesh-Singapore Business Council. This Council will encourage broader and deeper private sector partnerships through regular interactions such as business missions between Singapore and AP, roundtables and active facilitation.

6       The second MOU is between Food Empire’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Indus Coffee, and GoAP’s Department of Industries and Commerce, to build a new coffee powder production plant in Nellore, a district of Andhra Pradesh; and this again is a sign of growing business confidence in AP.

Innovation Corridor

7       Amaravati is of special significance in the Singapore-Andhra Pradesh partnership, and it is one that is growing from strength to strength.  I’m happy to note the commitment by Singapore and Andhra Pradesh to promoting greater collaboration in innovation through the creation of an Innovation Corridor. This Innovation Corridor will create test-beds to pilot and scale innovative urban solutions for use not just in Amaravati, but beyond in India and indeed the rest of Asia and the world.  The strong India-Singapore, and India-ASEAN relations will see a wide range of innovations across many business areas.  

Phase Z.ro

8       I’m also pleased to announce that Singapore Consortium, formed by Ascendas-Singbridge Pte Ltd and Sembcorp Development Ltd will shortly commence the development of a visitor centre and exhibition gallery at the Amaravati Capital City Start-Up Area.  Phase Z.ro, as the centre is called, will be established by a joint venture company between the Singapore Consortium and Amaravati Development Corporation, which will be incorporated following a Government of Andhra Pradesh Order issued earlier today.

9       This Phase is part of the larger catalytic development and would span 4,000 square metres of gross floor area.  It will act as a foundation of the Start-Up Area and a key touchpoint for visitors and citizens to get a glimpse of Amaravati City as it develops.

10     The Phase would also develop as a platform for business promotion and a gallery for sustainable urban solutions concepts applicable to the future capital city.  Indian and International companies are very welcome to play a role in Phase Z.ro.  I am also very happy to share with you and note the formation of a joint working group between Singapore and Japan to support collaboration between Singapore and Japanese companies to feature their urban solutions in that Centre.  This is part of a larger vision for our partnership to be an open one that welcomes the participation of others.

11     Just as importantly, Phase Z.ro would also function as a community hub, with its expansive land area of over two hectares.  Citizens of Amaravati would be able to access it for recreation and community engagements.  This people dimension is an important part of living up to the aspirations of Amaravati as a "People’s Capital".

12     We look forward to working closely with CII, GoAP and the Government of India to take our bilateral ties to even greater heights.

13     In closing, on behalf of the Government and people of Singapore, I wish the government and people of Andhra Pradesh and India every success in the years ahead.