'Huge scope for cooperation between Russia-AP in IT'

The visiting Russian Ambassador to India, Vyacheslav Ivanovich Trubnikov, today said that there is a huge scope for cooperation between Russia and Andhra Pradesh in the IT sector beside other areas of business interest.

Addressing a luncheon meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on the eve of his visit, he said that the erstwhile Soviet Union was closely associated with building core sector facilities such as Vizag Steel in the state.

He suggested meetings between business delegations of both the countries for expanding industrial and trade activities in their respective countries.

Replying to a question by a Satyam Computers' representative, he said that English proficiency among Russian IT professionals is as good as of their counterparts in India.

Laxmi Parthasarathy, principal secretary, Industries department, explained about the investment opportunities available in various sectors in the state to the Russian delegation.

She also informed about the projects which were in the pipeline.

Ambassador Trubnikov yesterday met chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and offered to share the experience of Russians in the fields of infrastructure including metro transport systems, and industries based on coal, bauxite and aluminium among others which could be utilised with the projects taken up in the state.

Russian cos invited to explore opportunities

The state government is planning to set up an IT infrastructure park in 2,000 acres beside the proposed Hardware Park near the international airport at Shamshabad, Laxmi Parthasarathy said here today.

At the luncheon meeting organised by FICCI, she invited Russian companies to explore the investment avenues in the state and offered her government's full support.

She also said that the state government is drawing up plans to promote three SEZs which would be very attractive for the companies from the countries like Russia to set up units in them.