By Moiz Mannan
It is not that Telangana has to start from scratch, but India’s newly-formed 29th state must soon begin realising the full potential of all that its people and politicians aspired for when they fought to be separated from Andhra Pradesh.
It is one thing to get a larger share of grants and aid from New Delhi, but it’s quite another to establish the kind of infrastructure and industry needed to propel the state towards its development goals.
This need is apparently not lost on the state’s leadership which has started in earnest to promote Telangana as an attractive investment destination by showcasing its potential. One major asset for the infant state is its diaspora. Hyderabad alone has sent out hundreds of thousands of its workforce abroad particularly to the Gulf.
One of the first steps in this direction was taken a few days back with the launch of the Telangana Business and Investment Forum (TBIF) by non-resident Telugus, mainly from the GCC region. The Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, Mir Mahmood Ali was reported by the media to have assured minimum red tape and maximum assistance to prospective NRI investors. He told a group of NRI businessmen gathered for the launch at Hyderabad’s Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FAPCCI) that approvals to projects floated by them would be granted “quickly” through the office of the chief minister himself. Ali also announced that shortly he will lead the delegation to Kerala to study the steps taken to assist non-resident Keralites. A government delegation is also planned to be sent to Saudi Arabia to interact with the state’s diaspora in the Gulf region.
One of the biggest positives for the new state in wooing its diaspora is the emotional quotient that was raised to an unprecedented high as Telangana came close to and eventually won its statehood.
During the peak period of the struggle, as its protagonists smelt victory, its diaspora in different parts of the world pitched in as best as they could.
Even before the state formally came into being, its residents living abroad had formed themselves into groups based on the Telangana identity. The America-based Telangana Development Forum (TDF-USA) has been working to bring together on a common platform all individuals and organisations from the region to work out ways and means to assist the development of their home state.
The Telangana NRI Association (TeNA) is another US-based grouping that states its purpose as “to provide a platform for literary, educational, cultural, social and development activities in USA and Telangana.” The London-based Telangana NRI Forum and the NRI TRS Cell UK and Europe are also raring to go to help the home state. Similarly, there are many such organisations based in the Gulf and other parts of the world.
Apart from the emotional bond, the Telangana government is also putting forth the logic and business sense behind investing in the state.
Until 2009, Andhra Pradesh was among the fastest growing states in the country. It was a favourite destination for global investments. During the turmoil caused by the statehood agitation and in the wake of the global economic slowdown, the state lost considerable ground.
Now, as the dust settles on the agitation and the national and global economies stabilising a bit, there are reports of corporations showing renewed interest. NRIs keen to invest in the new state would be watching closely the latest initiatives by entities such as the Mahindras who have launched a big tractor unit in Medak, Proctor and Gamble, Tata-Sikorsky and Amazon.
The Telangana region is rich in resources. It has large forest tracts in Nallamalla, tendu leaves (used to make beedis), it is rich in limestone and coal, and has a bit of granite.
It has the Singareni Collieries and limestone deposits in Nalgonda district.
Chief Minister K C Rao has assured Wipro chairman Azim Premji that the days are not far when Telangana would be the ideal destination for investments by national and international companies.
At a recent meeting in Hyderabad, Premji was reported to have unfolded before Rao his plans for Telangana.
Rao is luring business with the promise of a transparent and corruption free single window system would be set up to clear applications for new units. A special chasing cell would be set up for the purpose in the CMO.
Meanwhile, there were also reports of ITC planning a Rs. 3,500 crore paper manufacturing unit in Telangana. Rao has assured to provide land for the project. Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik and Hinduja Group chairman Ashok Hinduja have also met Rao separately in the recent past with proposals to expand activities. Even as Telangana government is in the process of formulating an industrial policy, a Tata group company has set the ball rolling to begin manufacturing fuselages and wings of Dornier 228 aircraft produced by Switzerland-based RUAG Aviation AG.
Earlier this month, China’s Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC) offered to set up a world-class power generation facility with 660-1,000 MW capacity in the shortest time possible in Telangana.
The Peninsula
