AP: MP Narasimha Rao Seeks Support From Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw To Develop Visakhapatnam As IT Hub

MP Narasimha Rao sought support and cooperation from the Central Government in sanctioning and fast-tracking the approvals and implementation of various IT projects in Visakhapatnam

Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao met Union Minister for Electronics and Information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday and asked support for developing Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as a major Information Technology (IT) Hub in the country.

Rao sought support and cooperation from the Central Government in sanctioning and fast-tracking the approvals and implementation of various IT projects in Visakhapatnam, which would create the necessary eco-system and a conducive environment for the fast growth of the IT sector in the city.

Rao also requested Union Minister to expand the operations of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Visakhapatnam Center, with state-of-the-art infrastructure to provide incubation services to improve the ecosystem for start-ups.

He asked for the establishment of a Fabrication Laboratory (Fablab) in Visakhapatnam to provide access to the tools, the knowledge, the financial means to educate and invent using technology and digital fabrication.

Rao requested that a Center for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) centre be established in Visakhapatnam. He further urged for the continued implementation of the BPO incentive scheme to create employment opportunities for the youth in non-metropolitan cities, including Visakhapatnam and other districts of Andhra Pradesh.

During the meeting, Rao congratulated the Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ushering in the digital revolution in the country and requested that Andhra Pradesh in general and Visakhapatnam, in particular, be considered and supported as major IT growth centres in the country.

Speaking to the media, MP Narasimha Rao said, "Andhra Pradesh has the massive potential to contribute to the development of information technology in the country. Support from the Union Government and the establishment of top-notch central IT institutions will create the necessary ecosystem to exponentially grow the IT sector in Visakhapatnam."