Dutch Secy Offers Support To Andhra P

The Netherlands has offered assistance to Andhra Pradesh in several spheres like ports development, food processing industries, environmental technology transfer and in the power and natural gas sectors.

The offer came from Van Santen, the first secretary of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi, while addressing a seminar on `The Netherlands - a business partner' here under the auspices of the local chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry.

Van Santen was responding to an earlier plea by Basheeruddin Babu Khan, state minister for heavy industry, to assist in the development of Machilipatnam and Gangavaram ports and the food processing industrial sector.

 

The Netherlands is currently extending support in upgrading the country's three major ports - Visakhapatnam, Cochin and Kandla -, apart from undertaking dredging work.

Van Santen said though small in size, his country was the world's third largest exporter of agricultural products and India could take lessons from their experience.

Giving tips to Indian entrepreneurs, he said use of available information, maintaining quality of products and time schedule for their shipping and attractive packaging could boost exports of agricultural produce.

Van Santen regretted that product quality of some of the exporters was not up to the mark and that packaging needed more attention.

Indian exporters should bear in mind that even a slight adverse factor about a product could send the wrong signal, he said.

Anil Kumar V Epur, vice-president of CII (local Chapter), said Andhra farmers lack post harvest technology.

This is one areathe Netherlands could help.