The British Deputy High Commissioner for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Andrew Fleming finds Vizag as the most attractive and suitable city for an administrative capital. He said the city has a unique cosmopolitan character and high potential for investment and growth.
Speaking at a special interaction in Vijayawada on August 12, Mr. Fleming said, “Vizag has a lot of potential for investments and tourism. The State government can market that potential. We were probably the first to make such move with HSBC, a British company in Vizag, providing employment to huge number of people. Whoever goes to Vizag, would like to return to the place once again. I’ll be very happy to go there time and again and spend time there. In fact, the city resembles the globally attractive destinations such as Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro and Spanish resort town San Sabastian.” Mr. Fleming is understood to have toured over 100 countries.
Speaking about trade and investments, Mr. Fleming said the United Kingdom and India did well despite Covid challenges. “We have interests in Health, Energy and Education. We already have some MoUs and are in the process of making certain major tie ups in near future. While the realised trade by UK firms in Telugu states is about 50 million pounds, the Indian companies did 70 million [pounds] worth of business which includes investments. We took up several initiatives to promote trade. Indian investors are now finding it more comfortable in doing business in UK,” he added.
There is a remarkable shift in students intending to study abroad according to him. The two year post-study work visa is attracting more numbers to UK, than the US. “There are several students from Telugu states too. Even the AP Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s daughter has also successfully completed her course and left for France for further studies. This apart, UK reportedly offers more value for money compared to the US,” summed up the Deputy High Commissioner.
The Andhra Pradesh government had proposed executive capital at Vizag, legislative capital at Amaravati and judicial capital at Kurnool through the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020. At present, the decision is challenged in the AP High Court.
