Claiming that Dutch investors are willing to invest in Uttar Pradesh Netherlands Ambassador to India has suggested that Uttar Pradesh government should promote ‘ land banks’ and strengthen cooperative sector for introduction of technology in farm sector.
“Around 12 companies of Netherlands have shown their interests in investing and doing business with UP for which the ground work has already started” said Ambassador of Netherlands to India Alphonsus Stoelinga here on Tuesday.
A mega Dutch company has also been given work for survey for cycling track in five cities of the state including Noida, Greater Noida, Agra and lucknow, he said.
Talking to reporters Stoelinga said there is vast potential in every sector in UP which has a large population of over 200 millions. “Netherlands is just the size of Haryana but it is second largest producer of food grains and tops in production of flowers. When we can do it, why UP cannot,” he questioned while saying that UP needs a good cold chain so that the 25 per cent of the foodgrains which goes waste could be preserved.
Netherlands have also set up a UP desk in its embassy to promote the business with the state after the recent visit of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to Netherlands early this month, he said.
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Rajesh Srivastava, chairman and Managing Director Rabo Equity Advisors, a subsidiary of Rabobank, said they have given suggestions to the UP CM about starting land bank in the state as land holdings are very small.
“Netherlands has a good cooperative system which was the reason for good agricultural output. This needs to be done in UP,” he said.
He said a delegation from an agricutlrue university in Netherlands will visit Chandrashekhar Azad university in Kanpur to set up a unit of center of excellence to train farmers in hi-tech farming of potato.CSA University will sign an MoU with Wageningen University, Netherlands for upgradation of dairy industry and horticulture on the day.
later in his meeting with senior officials Stoelinga exuded confidence that business and technology cooperation with Uttar Pradesh will gradually take concrete shape for mutual benefit of both regions.
“The tremendous prospects here have been taken up by Netherlands very seriously and it is signified by newly inaugurated Netherlands ‘Trade Desk’ in lucknow”, he added.
The Ambassador appreciated the setting up of ‘single window’ facility by the State government in the form of Netherlands Desk, headed by MD, U.P. State Tourism Development Corp Shashank Vikram. The 20-member delegation from Netherlands wrapped up their State visit with a marathon meeting with Principal Secretaries of various departments under the Chairmanship of Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) V N Garg