Vizag: Foundation stone of int convention centre laid

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today laid the foundation stone of an international convention centre at Harbour Park here.
UAE-based Lulu Group will build the convention centre along with a five-star hotel and a mall on a 13-acre site at a total cost of Rs 2,000 crore.
Union Ministers Suresh Prabhu, P Ashok Gajapati Raju, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Lulu Group Chairman M Yusuf Ali and others attended the event, held on the sidelines of the three-day Partnership Summit here.
While Ali said the convention centre would be ready in 36 months, the chief minister hoped it would be ready to host the next Partnership Summit.

"This is a prestigious project for the city," the chief minister said.
Meanwhile, the Energy Efficiency Services Limited signed a memorandum of understanding with the AP government at the Summit to supply 10,000 electric cars and 4,000 chargers to various departments through New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of AP.

EESL will also supply about 17 lakh smart energy meters to the two power distribution companies in the state.
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, Automotive Components Manufacturers Association of India and Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board also signed an MoU to promote manufacturing of automobiles and auto components in the state.

Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, who was instrumental in the signing of this MoU, said he would make AP not only the most industrially-advanced state but also a fully-employed state.
"AP will soon emerge as automobile hub. The vision of the Prime Minister and the vision of the Chief Minister are combining to make this happen," he said.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani announced he would invest Rs 9,000 crore in various projects in AP in the next two years.
Besides 1,000 MW solar and wind energy plants, the group would establish logistics parks along the Inland Waterways and some ports in the state, he added.

Adani Group has already bagged the contract to develop a minor port at Bhavanapadu in Srikakulam district in a public-private partnership mode.