Focus is on strengthening export ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh, says APNRTS president Ravi Kumar

The Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS), which has around 2.1 lakh members across 148 countries and nearly 900 coordinators worldwide, is working on a range of welfare, legal assistance, emergency support and economic empowerment initiatives.

“Our focus at the moment is on stengthening export ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh,” said president of APNRTS Vemuru Ravi Kumar, explaining that while the society facilitates investments by NRIs wanting to establish businesses or bring companies to the State, its immediate focus is on creating economic opportunities for the diaspora and connecting them with Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ravi Kumar said one major initiative is to develop NRIs into international traders. “Although India exports around $780 billion worth of goods annually, Andhra Pradesh accounts for only about 2.6%, despite its coastline, ports and significant production of exportable commodities,” he said. The organisation has enrolled nearly 6,000 people for its international trading initiative and has so far trained about 120 of them. “The three-day programme covers international trade procedures, precautions, commodities traded between Andhra Pradesh and different countries, suppliers and buyers, and prevailing commodity prices,” he explained.

Mr. Ravi Kumar said there is a need to improve the functioning of the State’s ports to make them more attractive to exporters and traders. “Andhra Pradesh has substantial production of commodities like chilli and turmeric, but a significant portion of their exports moves through ports outside the State,” he pointed out.

Investment fund

APNRTS also proposes an investment fund to provide NRIs with a professionally managed investment vehicle. “Many NRIs are interested in investing in India and Andhra Pradesh but lack the expertise or an appropriate investment structure. The proposed fund will predominantly invest in infrastructure and growth opportunities, with an emphasis on Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

Speaking of overseas employment, Mr. Ravi Kumar said trained manpower is likely to become one of the major exports over the next several decades. “Under the proposed model, overseas demand would be aggregated through the APNRTS’s international network, while the State government would train manpower according to the demand,” he said, adding that overseas members could identify requirements and help place trained candidates, preferably from Andhra Pradesh.

CXO Club

APNRTS also wants to create a network of Andhra-origin CEOs and senior executives abroad to facilitate business networking and employment opportunities. “We have a CXO club, comprising around 300-400 members comprising CEOs, COOs, CIOs and other senior executives of companies in various countries, but the initiative is yet to gain traction,” he said, explaining that the Government wanted to help Andhra-origin companies and professionals network across countries and create opportunities for skilled workers from the State.

The Society is also setting up a venture capital fund as part of its broader economic empowerment programme.

On the welfare front, APNRTS provides legal assistance in land disputes and criminal complaints through a police cell functioning under the CID. Since 2018, NRIs have been able to file a zero FIR without being physically present in Andhra Pradesh, following which the CID can direct the local police concerned to act, he informed.