AP Govt signs MOU with Novartis

Hyderabad, Nov 9 (UNI) Pharma Major Novartis India has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Andhra Pradesh Government for setting up health care related Information TEchnology(IT), IT-enabled Services(ITES) and Research and Development facilities in the state with proposed investment of over Rs 300 to Rs 500 crore.

The MOU was entered into by the IT and C department and Novartis represented by its India Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Ranjit Shahani and exchanged in the presence of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and IT Minister Sabitha Indira Reddy, among others.

An anchor client like Novartis not only made Andhra Pradesh a most preferred health care-IT,ITES destination in the state, but also opened up percolation of IT to other districts, generating gainful employment to rural educated youth, State IT and C Secretary K Ratna Prabha said in a release.

Novartis planned to initially employ over 1000 IT professionals in their proposed IT, ITES, R and D facilities, ramping up the same between 3000 to 5000 people, she said, adding Surfing different locations in the country, Novartis zeroed in on the Sultapur area on the city outskirts impressed with the congeial atmosphere for investment in the state and sought allotment of 150 acres of land for the purpose.

UNI SM VV AK1810