Coinciding with the launch of the Agency for Promotion and Facilitation of Investments in Remote Services and Technology (AP FIRST), the government of Andhra Pradesh has signed a series of memoranda of understanding and intents with various organisations from the private sector. These agreements include initiatives to develop infrastructure, telecom, training and manpower consulting and would be beneficial to AP FIRST customers.

On the infrastructure front, the government entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mumbai-based K Raheja Corporation, under which the latter will develop office space customised to suit different needs and price points.

The Rahejas would invest over Rs 600 crore in a phased manner to develop approximately 125 acres of land in Madhapur to build four million square feet of office space, besides a mega mall, multiplex, service apartments and a convention centre.

The newly set-up agency AP FIRST inked an agreement with Vanenburg IT Park, under which potential investors in the state can avail of the latter’s MIDaS suite of services at a reduced price. The MIDaS suite includes management, infrastructure, development and service support services. In short, a complete range of handholding services to start-up units.

These two agreements ensure that companies deciding to invest in the state have both the required infrastructure as well as support to establish their units. In order to assist companies that are planning to set up shop in Hyderabad, AP FIRST has tied up with Insignia Brooke, a leading real estate consultancy firm, to offer transaction, advisory and management services in the real estate space to investors. Insignia would cater to the information needs of potential ITES companies setting up centres in Hyderabad and offer its services at a discount of 10 percent exclusively for AP FIRST clients.

Global TeleSystems (GTL), another Mumbai-based group, entered into an MoU with the government of Andhra Pradesh to offer its services to companies referred to it by AP FIRST. The company, engaged in the supply of telecom equipment, connectivity and network engineering services, is already catering to the communication needs of large MNCs like GE Capital, HSBC and Deloitte Consulting in Hyderabad. As per the MoU, GTL will offer its services on the best quote/special price basis, whereby rates will be equal to or lower than what it offers otherwise to the same magnitude of business. The company would also sign a service level agreement (SLA) with them on key deliverables.

To ensure that the companies setting up ITES establishments in the state are provided with quality manpower, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) signed a memorandum of intent (MoI) with two ITES training companies NIIT Smartserve and Hero Mindmine to offer their training operations in Hyderabad.