Andhra Pradesh, which has embarked on a mission to transform the economy of the state as number one in the country by 2029, today signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia Government. As per the MoU the Malaysia’s Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) will work with Andhra Pradesh in setting up a similar Pemandu in the state as well to oversee implementation and assess progress of economic transformation and government transformation programs. While the Pemandu is a unit in Prime Minister’s Office in Malaysia, in Andhra Pradesh it will function under close supervision of chief minister’s office. Initiated in September 2009, with an objective to transforming the economy, PEMANDU is said to be yielding results in Malaysia. Naidu, who has been admirer of Malaysia, now wants to adopt the same methodology in the implementation of programs in Andhra Pradesh too.
Sanjay Gupta, CEO Andhra Pradesh State Development Planning and Ravindran Devagunam, Director, PEMANDU affixed their initials on the agreement. The ceremony was witnessed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chanrababu Naidu and PEMANDU CEO and Special Advisor (With Ministerial Status) to the Prime Minister of Malaysia Idris Jala.
The signing of the agreement comes in less than a month after Niti Aayog entered a similar Memorandum of Understanding with PEMANDU, Malaysia. According to the MoU, PEMANDU and the Union Government will work as partners in rolling out impactful and meaningful public sector initiatives at national and state levels.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness over being the first state to partner with PEMANDU. He said the PEMANDU’s emphasis on governance and structural changes would help the state to achieve the goal of being the best state in the country by 2029 and the best destination in the world by 2050. ” This is in the same spirit as Malaysia’s aim to transform the country into a developed nation by 2020″, he added.
“Our aim is to focus on inclusive growth, poverty alleviation and wealth creation; PEMANDU’s partnership with the state government will clear roadblocks and accelerate our state’s growth,” he explained.
“The Chief Minister has always been familiar with and keenly interested in the Malaysian approach that has boosted growth and development indicators dramatically in the past five years, PEMANDU CEO Idris Jala said appreciating Naidu’s initiative to replicate the project here. Earlier, he gave an inspiring presentation illustrating the success story of PEMANDU in the Collectors’ conference.
Idris Jala said that they would exercise a 30-30-40 strategy during the training sessions in which 30% of recommendations would be implemented exactly as suggested; 30% of recommendations would refined to achieve inclusive growth. The remaining 40% will be newly generated ideas. The sessions will begin from 5th January, 2016 and 8 labs will be set up primarily. PEMANDU services (surveys, labs, feedback) will be provided for a period of 14 weeks.
