OTTAWA: As many as 15 Canadian companies along with Consul General for Canada Jennifer Daubeny took part in an interactive session on infrastructure organised by the Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce here on Monday. Company representatives from sectors like water, waste management, solid waste, waterways, traffic signalling, sensor systems, sewerage, plastic, street lighting and architecture made their presentations and interacted with local entrepreneurs. Prominent among the companies are Intellizim Corporation, Aretas Sensor Networks, AMP Solar, Endura Form, Imex Systems Inc, Kryton Buildmart Limited and LEA Associates South Asia Limited. Making her inaugural address, Ms. Jennifer said every minute nearly 25 persons were leaving rural landscape in India to urban areas and the rapid urbanisation posed several infrastructure problems to administrators and planners. “The onus is on the modern planner to create a quality life by following smart and innovative means in all fields that connect the common man.” She said in 2016, trade worth Canadian $8 billion took place between India and Canada. “Around 50,000 students are studying in Canada.” Ms. Jennifer said the State and the new capital city coming up at Amaravati offered path-breaking opportunities to the companies with innovative ideas.
Chamber executive director P. Bhaskar Rao, in his address, briefed the delegation about the areas where Andhra Pradesh was surging ahead and aimed to excel. “AP is an agrarian State and we have several opportunities in this sector. After Rajasthan, AP is leading in solar and for the last two decades the aqua sector has been blossoming,” he said. He said the new State also provided huge opportunity in fruits and vegetables and cited the example of mangoes which had been providing encouraging forex to the country. “Nearly 50% of the country mango production is from Andhra Pradesh.” He said the capital city was well connected with national highways, waterways and ports and with power available round the clock, the companies could function uninterruptedly. “The complete fibre grid is also beneficial for the IT companies.”