Cisco India is planning to set up an innovation centre in Andhra Pradesh, probably near Vijayawada, to boost and nurture local talent, according to the company president, Dinesh Malkani.

He was here on Friday to participate in the launch function of e-pragati project of Andhra Pradesh. He said his company would partner with the State Government by sharing its expertise in IT and network architecture.

"We are thankful to the State Government for choosing Cisco to help enable the fibre network project. Terasoft is our partner in the endeavour," he said.

Malkani said the company would work in the fields of education and smart cities in the State and it would extend its net academy operations to the State. Five thousand students in the State would get an opportunity to listen to virtual lectures by the best teachers.

He said the objective of the e-pragati project was to connect every citizen in the State and to provide all government services under a single integrated platform, hassle-free. "It will put Andhra Pradesh in the forefront and it will be a huge success," he added.

Malkani said that education and internet are the two great levellers and equalisers in the modern world and "I am happy that the Andhra Pradesh Government is relying on them to bring about qualitative change in the lives of people."

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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