AP and Maryland sign `Sister State' agreement

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and governor of the state of Maryland of the United States of America Martin O'Malley signed 'Sister State Agreement' at a function held here on Monday.

The agreement, the first of its kind between the two, signifies friendship and commits the two states to working together on matters of business and industry, culture, arts, education and health.

Leading a delegation of more than 100 members, who included business leaders, educators and elected officials, the Maryland governor said it was the largestever delegation from Maryland to visit any country. "We are very pleased to sign our first Sister State agreement with Andhra Pradesh, a place of much promise and progress that offers tremendous opportunities for our shared ties in IT, biotechnology and biopharma," said Martin O'Malley. On a sixday mission to India, the delegation also plans to travel to Mumbai and New Delhi to boost twoway trade and investments to promote Maryland as an ideal location for Indian companies looking to establish US operations, particularly in life sciences, technology, and aerospace and defence. It will also sign a similar Sister State agreement with Maharashtra.

The visting dignitary also witnessed the signing of several MoUs between Maryland businesses and their Indian counterparts. Angarai, a company based in Prince George's county, signed an MoU with CI, a Chennaibased product development company to pursue opportunities in mobile and web applications.

Sheladia Associates, an engineering architecture and development company based in Rockville, signed an MoU with two Indian firms, SaiMatarani Toll Ways Ltd and Gayatri Projects Ltd. Hyderabadbased RT Medibus Technologies Pvt Ltd signed an MoU with DataNet Systems Corporations, Maryland and Health Management and Research Institute, Hyderabad. Later, Bangalurubased Scalene Cybernetics Ltd signed an MoU with Amarex, Contract Research Organization based in Maryland.

The delegation, which included representatives of 43 companies, also plans to address the major business organisations (CII and FACCI) in each city and also meets the top executives of leading Indian companies and senior leaders of the governments.