Date:03/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/03/stories/2006030300291900.htm

Back AP set to receive Bush

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Govt keen on cooperation in farm sector

Potential benefits
The Chief Minister says the visit is extremely important for the State as it provides an opportunity to explore the potential in bilateral trade, particularly in horticulture.

Hyderabad , March 2

The Andhra Pradesh Government is gearing up to the US President, Mr George W. Bush's brief visit on March 3 and is planning to provide him a glimpse of developments in the farm sector.

Speaking to newspersons, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said that as part of the State Government's effort to provide Mr Bush a snapshot of the State, its culture and economy, it has made a five-minute film, which he is likely to view in Air Force One.

Dr Reddy also said that Mr Bush's visit is extremely important for the State as it provides an opportunity for the country and the State in particular to explore the potential in bilateral trade, particularly in the area of horticulture.

"We are glad that the US President chose to visit Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh and would get a chance to interact and see how cultivation is managed in this part of the world at the Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University (ANGRAU). He will also get to see how self-help groups (SHGs) have been empowered and how they efficiently manage finances through thrift movement."

During his brief stopover in Hyderabad, the US President will visit ANGRAU and the Indian School of Business. Earlier today, Dr Reddy reviewed the elaborate security cover for the visiting team and held parleys with US Consul General, Mr David Hopper.

NGO'S APPEAL

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for uplift of people in rural areas has appealed to the Chief Minister not to discuss farm issues with the US President, Mr George W. Bush, when the latter visits Hyderabad on March 3.

Mr P.V. Satheesh, Director, Deccan Development Society, has said that the US has nothing to offer Andhra Pradesh on the farm front and that there was nothing great to emulate with regard to farm policies and practices.

In an open letter to the Chief Minister released to the media here on Wednesday, he posed several questions, wondering what could be the talking points in the scheduled 20-minute tête-à-tête.