By IANS
Washington : California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, hero of many Hollywood action films, will visit Hyderabad in November with a high-level business delegation to discuss mutual cooperation and investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh.
This was decided at a meeting Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had with Schwarzenegger in Sacramento, California, Thursday.
According to a statement from the chief minister's office here, he had detailed discussions with Schwarzenegger on boosting trade ties between Andhra Pradesh and California in various sectors.
The meeting took place at the invitation of Schwarzenegger. On learning about Reddy's stay in California as part of his four-day visit to the US, he had invited him.
The California governor agreed to Reddy's request to explore all possibilities for investments in major sectors like IT, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food processing, BPO (business process outsourcing), micro-irrigation and water conservation.
Schwarzenegger had a word of praise for Reddy. "You seem to be very popular among the people of not only your state, but the country. You are a blend of a farmer but a modern administrator and astute politician. That is what is wanted in an agrarian economy, particularly in a developing democratic country like India. You are doing very well on the farm, water and irrigation front," he said.
Reddy told Schwarzenegger that he was very popular in India. "Even in my state of Andhra Pradesh, you as an actor has many fans," said the chief minister.
The California governor said he has great admiration for India, a great liberal democratic country. "My wife, in fact, likes the spirituality of India", Schwarzenegger said, adding that he would love to visit India and its people.
Schwarzenegger said he was happy that many Indians do stay and work in his state. The chief minister pointed out that that every fourth Indian in California is from Andhra Pradesh.
Reddy explained to him the rapid strides made by Andhra Pradesh in IT, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and food processing and briefed him about massive irrigation schemes and infrastructure projects including the upcoming Rs.24.78 billion (nearly $610 million) international airport at Hyderabad.