WASHINGTON: Several Indian-Americans have decided to adopt more than 2400 villages in Andhra Pradesh as part of 'Smart Village-Smart Ward' programme which aims at comprehensive development of the areas.

Nara Lokesh, Telugu Desam Party leader and son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, met several Indian-Americans in Los Angeles, San Jose, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Portland and Dallas, and asked them to invest in the villages in AP.

Impressed by the idea of 'Smart Village-Smart Ward', several Indian-Americans have decided to adopt more than 2417 villages in AP, the visiting leader said. He met Assistant Secretary of Commerce Arun Kumar and discussed the smart city project in particular that of Visakhapatnam, a media statement said.

"The day is not far when AP will become a formidable force that will set new precedents in the nation," Lokesh said while addressing the NRI Telugu community.

"I explained the immense potential our State presented as an investment destination and requested his support in making AP a manufacturing hub," he said.

Lokesh also met Texas Governor Gregg Abott and Indian- American Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

"They discussed several potential areas in trade and investments between Louisiana and AP that would prove to be mutually beneficial," the statement said.

Jindal expressed his pleasure about the significant improvement in the 'ease of doing business in India' and the Government's initiatives.

Lokesh also met a host of business leaders including Vinod Khosla, founder of Sun Microsystems, Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe and Paul Humphries, group President of Flextronics.

'Smart Village-Smart Ward' programme, the brain child of Naidu, aims at people's participation in every village for its comprehensive development.
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