Google inks MoU with Andhra Pradesh for state's IT vision

Visakhapatnam: Google India on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Andhra Pradesh government to support AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's vision of transforming the state of Andhra Pradesh to 'Digital AP'.

Under the pact, Google India would work with the AP government to get women as well as small and medium business online.

The MoU was signed by Google India Vice-President and Managing Director Rajan Anandan and AP secretary Sanjay Jaju in the presence of AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Addressing a gathering later, Rajananandan said that Google India would collaborate with the AP government to achieve its vision to make it a model digital state. He said self help groups would be put online with Telugu content.

"We are delighted to collaborate with AP government to achieve its vision to be a model digital state. Creating awareness about the benefits of the internet and its adoption among women, small medium businesses and children can deliver a huge economic impact for the state," he said.

Improved accessibility to AP government websites and scaling up local language web could open up whole new opportunities for local entrepreneurs and make the Internet more meaningful to non-English speaking users, he said.

AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that his state wishes to be the first one to embrace the Prime Minister's vision of a 'Digital India'.

"We are happy to announce a number of initiatives along with Google, that will serve as the foundation in achieving the Digital AP vision. I will personally be involved in ensuring the roll out of these initiatives and monitor the impact."

Highlights of the MoU include helping AP government make its websites mobile-ready and accessible in the local language, promoting internet safety among children and government officials, get more local languages content online, collaborate with AP government to scale up initiatives to promote digital literacy amongst women, as well as help small medium businesses in the state gain from the internet.

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