Want to make Andhra Pradesh a knowledge hub: Chandrababu Naidu

Visakhapatnam, Apr 8: The Andhra Pradesh government aims to make the state a knowledge and technological hub of India, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said.

He advised students to treat their problems as a challenge and convert them into opportunities to grow in life. Naidu was addressing a large number of students at the launch of a 'knowledge mission' at the Andhra University campus in Visakhapatnam.

He directed the officials concerned to provide Wi-Fi in all universities as soon as possible. "We didn't have so many opportunities and facilities during our school and college days. But, now, the students have everything. They should make use of technology and sharpen their minds to achieve higher goals in life. Now, the students need not sit in classrooms to acquire knowledge. They can use their laptops, other electronic devices and Internet to get the same knowledge from outside of the classroom," the Chief Minister said.

"We are planning to utilise the long sea coast that Andhra Pradesh has and set up logistics units between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada," he said.

The TDP-led government is also planning to construct three big convention centres conforming to international standards at Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, Naidu said.

"I identified (during the earlier tenure as chief minister) the importance of information technology and invited many companies to establish their centres at Hyderabad. Now, it has become a top IT city in the nation. We are not disappointed with the bifurcation of the state. We should consider each crisis as a chance to grow and work hard for the welfare of the state and nation," he said.

The AP government's priority now is to make the entire state a knowledge and technological hub, Naidu said. The government is going to develop various sectors under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with tourism holding good opportunities in this regard, he said.

"We are planning to establish marine and sports universities. The Centre is extending help in our projects. We have got IIT, IIM and other prestigious institutes," he said. On the occasion, around 2,000 meritorious students were each given a cash award of Rs 20,000 and a tablet device.

PTI