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Naidu confident about Clinton's trip

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

A high-level US team led by Director (advance programmes) Dan Rosenthal airdashed to Hyderabad on Monday to assess the prospects for the inclusion of the city in the itinerary of American President Bill Clinton during his forthcoming visit to India in March this year.

"I am confident about the US president's trip to Hyderabad," Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told the media in an informal chat.

He said that the 17-member US team had come on a day's visit in connection with the US president's visit. "They are going around, seeing the places (which are likely to interest the US president)," he added.

Asked about the places that the US president is expected to visit in the city, Chandrababu Naidu said, "The state government would like him to visit the Hitec City (Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City), the Indian Institute of Information Technology, the Twins (Twin Cities Integrated Network Services) centre at Banjara Hills, the Satyam Computers development centre, a Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas group and, time permitting, a historical monument like Golconda fort. We will also arrange a civic reception for him."

Chandrababu Naidu was quite excited about Clinton's visit.

"It is after 30 years that an American president is visiting India. It is a moment of pride for us. Clinton is coming, accompanied by a high-level industrial delegation. We always want to attract investments (to Andhra Pradesh). The United States is the richest country in the world. They are very strong and the number one in technology, industry etc. We are looking for investments in these sectors," he pointed out.

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister has been lobbying for the inclusion of Hyderabad in the itinerary of the US president's Indian visit for several months now. He also wrote a letter to Clinton, inviting him to Hyderabad. The US President wrote back to him, assuring to consider the inclusion of Hyderabad in his itinerary.

Responding to queries on whether he was confident about the US president's trip to Hyderabad, Chandrababu Naidu said, "The arrival of the advance team itself is a further movement" in that regard. "It is a pre-preliminary team. We expect many such teams to come before the US president's visit," a senior government official said.

The official sources said that the US team, which arrived by a special chartered flight in the city on Monday morning, went round several places in and around the state capital, including the Mediciti Hospitals complex at Shamirpet, Hitec City at Madhapur, Satyam Computers software development centre at Bahadurpally, Twins Centre at Banjara Hills, a CARE project at Fathenagar and the American Studies Research Centre on the Osmania University campus. The team also studied the security arrangements and the facilities available in the twin cities.

US Consul-General at Madras, Bernard J Alter and US Public Affairs Officer Mark Larsen accompanied the US advance team during its day's visit to the city. The advance team comprised officials of the White House, security wings, foreign office and media departments. A deputy secretary in the ministry of external affairs, government of India, accompanied the US team.

Official sources claimed that the US president is expected to visit the city on March 22, accompanied by a 600-member entourage, including business delegates, officials, media representatives and security personnel. "The US president is expected to come to the city from Goa and later proceed to Dhaka from here," the sources added.

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