Hyderabad, Apr 1 (KNN)  An increasing number of women are donning the hat of entrepreneurs in Andhra Pradesh, thanks to various programmes run by the Association of Ladies Entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh (ALEAP).
 
President of ALEAP, K Rama Devi talked to KNN’s correspondent Manne Sreenivas Rao about the organisation’s mission:
 

1. The ‘Dream Project’ by ALEAP is sought after by women entrepreneurs who are about to start a new business.  Can you provide some details of the programme?

 
The ‘Dream Project’ is the third industrial initiative by ALEAP.  It is a new concept by which we give top priority to the environment while establishing an industry.  To begin with, women entrepreneurs are offered loans at lower interest rates.   Having already earned 70 credit points for eco-friendly activities, it will be an advantage to our ‘Dream Project’ entrepreneurs who export. The project is expected to come up in a phased manner in a 75 acre property with an initial investment of about Rs 150 crore. 

1. What is the focus of the ‘Dream Project’?

With a focus on eco-friendly principles, the ‘Dream Project’ promotes eco-friendly industrial projects that are pollution-free while conserving water, energy and nature.  As far as possible, recycled water would be used and efforts would be made to provide alternative sources of energy like solar power.

1. Which organizations support ALEAP in its endeavors?

ALEAP has been in collaboration with three international organisations in establishing the project.  These include GIZ, the technical arm of the Government of Germany for design and technical support; KfW, a development Bank of the Government of Germany which has been roped in to extend loans for upcoming entrepreneurs at a lower interest rate than currently available in the market; and Medak-based International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) which has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ALEAP to extend the required assistance for the establishment of the project.

1. Could you shed some light on the other two projects of ALEAP?

ALEAP has two other industrial estates – at Gajularamaram in Ranga Reddy District with about 120 industries; and another at Surampally Village in Nunna Mandal in Krishna District with 70 industries, spread over a 30-acre property.   (KNN)