Wipro's Azim Premji meets AP CM Chandrababu Naidu

Wipro today proposed to expand its operations in Visakhapatnam and also to set up a soap manufacturing and fatty acids production plant in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
"Wipro chairman Azim Premji met chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu here today and discussed possibilities for expanding the company's presence in the state post-bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh," state IT and Information Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy said in a release.
Wipro was given 7.14 acres of land in Visakhapatnam in 2004-05 with an employment commitment of 2,500.
"Out of this, the company took up construction in two lakh sq ft in four acres, presently employing 650 professionals. The company now requested for NOC to develop the remaining 3.1 acres area and take up construction in five lakh sq ft and create employment for 6,400 over the next five years from the date of approval of the SEZ," the release said.

The chief minister has immediately agreed to the request of Premji for according the NOC as Wipro's enhanced presence in Visakhapatnam would boost the IT sector in the picturesque port city, it said.
The release quoted Premji as stating that the company is interested in setting up a soap manufacturing and fatty acids manufacturing plant near Hindupur (in Anantapur district) and sought allotment of 50 acres of land.

Premji also said that he would like to enhance the activity of training teachers in primary education and undertake anganwadi training and awareness programmes in healthcare and start an institute for training technicians in health care on medical devices such as CT Scan among others.

Appreciating the activities of Azim Premji Foundation, Naidu has requested Premji to expand Wipro's operations to other locations in (new) Andhra Pradesh like Tirupati, Vijayawada and Kakinada, the release said.
Naidu also requested Premji to offer graduate and post-graduate programmes, run by his Foundation, to Andhra students and subsequently absorb them into their organisations.
Naidu has sought the support of Wipro in developing the new state of Andhra Pradesh, according to the release.