United States lauds Prime Minister Modi's initiative to create 100 smart cities

US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews has lauded the initiative of Prime Minister Modi to create 100 smart cities. Bruce Andrews had traveled to India last week as leader of a high-powered delegation of 18 American companies on a Smart Cities Infrastructure Business Development Mission. In his opinion, the plan can also offer a unique and important opportunity for American businesses.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com dated 20 February 2016.

The ambitious plan to develop 100 smart cities can enhance quality of life for its citizens and help the country meet all environmental goals. Andrews has appreciated Priime Minister Modi's leadership in revitalizing India's economic development.
The smart cities plan involves overlaying of the urban infrastructure with IT connectivity and it can improve core infrastructure and also enhance citizen services.
Andrews also highlighted the need for India to address the fundamental 'ease of doing business' barriers that have traditionally hampered expanded trade and investment between the two countries. Already, the first 20 cities to become smart cities have been identified and will be provided $15 million annually for the next five years as seed money to facilitate "smart cities" updates and improvements. The investment of the center will be matched by state governments and would be used to catalyze private-sector investment.
Visakhapatnam (Vizag) is one of the three initial smart cities named as an official partner for the US and, a grant agreement was concluded in presence of Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to continue US Trade and Development Agency's (USTDA) support of India's goal of developing smart cities across the country.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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