Australia consulate delegation meets AP CM

An official of the Australia consulate today met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu here and discussed possible areas of cooperation like aquaculture and sports.
Sean Kelly, Counsellor, Australia consulate along with a delegation met Naidu at the Secretariat.
Noting that Andhra Pradesh is hub of aquaculture, Kelly said the country is interested to explore opportunities in the sector, according to a state government release.
Ahead of meeting the Chief Minister, the Australian delegation held a series of discussions with government officials on various sectors in which Australia can collaborate with AP.
The delegation evinced interest in helping the state set up a "Sports and Water Resources University".

Badminton chief national coach Pullela Gopichand, who is working with the government on sports-related infrastructure, stressed on the need to build such centers of excellence that can provide employment opportunities to youth.

"Instead of people going to foreign countries for education, we can provide them with opportunities in the state," the release quoted Gopichand as saying.
The Chief Minister was also informed about the five-year integrated course that will see active collaboration between state and Australian universities.
The course will be structured in a way that students spend 3.5 years in AP while the remaining 1.5 years will be spent in Australia, as part of the tie-up, it said.

Observing that the state government's smart Andhra Pradesh idea is innovative and novel, Kelly informed the Chief Minister that they are interested to be a part of it, the release added.