Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government and the US Trade Development Agency (USTDA) on Sunday inked an MoU for the development of smart cities in the state.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary IYR Krisha Rao and Director of the US Trade Development Agency (USTDA) Leocadia I. Zak signed the MoU in presence of Union Urban Development M
Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi, a state government release said.
US President Barack Obama arrived in New Delhi in the morning today on a three-day visit to the country during which he will attend the Republic Day function in the national capital as its chief guest.
Under the agreement with AP government, USTDA would contribute funding for feasibility studies/pilots, study tours, workshops and training. It will also support consultancies and advisories for the development of Visakhapatnam into a 'smart city'.
Other agencies of the US government, like the Department of Commerce and US Exim Bank would also support the efforts of the two sides.
Meanwhile, the US Industry Organisation, which has shown an interest in participating in developing Visakhapatnam, would provide the necessary infrastructure facilities like aviation and energy, the release said.
Under the MoU, specific agreements would be worked out by the AP government and the US agencies with active participation of the Government of India.
"Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the MoU is a good beginning for establishing and strengthening administrative processes for higher growth. This will also better relations between Andhra Pradesh and the USA," the release added.
