Australia keen on working with Andhra Pradesh government in aquaculture sector

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(Naidu accepted the invitation…)

HYDERABAD: Australia today expressed willingness to work with Andhra Pradesh government in the field of aquaculture and dairy industry.

"Australia specialises in sustainable fisheries management and could work with AP in this sector," Australian Consul General in Chennai, Sean Kelly, said during a meeting with state Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat here.

"We will ensure that fisheries sector is managed well without exploitation of marine life," he said.

Naidu said he wanted to make AP the aquaculture capital of the world and a marine processing hub of the country, a statement issued by the Chief Minister said.

Naidu had also made a presentation at the Indo-Australian summit in Delhi last month.

"We want to make the state number one in terms of processing capacity, value addition and highest exports of seafood," he said.

Naidu said Australia could also explore opportunities in policy-making for the marine industry, research, equipment and machinery with Andhra Pradesh.

Kelly said Australia is also keen on collaborating with the state in healthcare management, mining, gas and energy sector, logistics, sports, skill development, education, human resources and pension funds.

In health care management, he said Australia could collaborate in Intellectual Property and medical research.

"Australia has a strong presence in logistics. We could help AP in that (sector)," Kelly said. He also invited the CM to visit Australia and attend the seafood convention in Perth in October this year.

Naidu accepted the invitation and said that he may send a delegation to Australia before October to study the country's aquaculture industry.

Once the areas of collaboration are finalised, the officials of AP and Australian governments can continuously review the progress of projects by meeting up once in six months, he said.

On the occasion, Naidu also said the government will set up six universities dedicated to energy, water, hospitality, aquaculture, logistics and sports in the state.