Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said that Andhra Pradesh would become hub of petroleum sector with world renowned experts and pedagogy imparting training to the students of the up and coming Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy- IIPE in Visakhapatnam. <br/><br/>He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for IIPE, popularly known as Petro University at Vangali village in Sabbavaram Mandal of Visakhapatnam district today. <br/><br/>Mr. Pradhan said the Centre and the State governments are fulfilling the faith of the people of the State reposed in the NDA-TDP alliance. He said the new State after bifurcation is making its journey with renewed vigour. <br/><br/>He said students who come out of the skill development centre after successfully completing their training are bound to be absorbed in the petro majors of the country viz., GAIL, HPCL. <br/><br/>The Union Minister said under Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana the Centre has kept a target of providing gas connections to 90 per cent of the households in the country. <br/><br/>On the occasion, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu observed that the Petroleum University coming up in Andhra Pradesh is first of its kind in the country. He said, it is fully being supported by the Centre in terms of funds as well as timely approvals for the institution to function smoothly and to gain world reputation.<br/><br/>Saying that the Union government is action oriented government, he cited, under Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana road connectivity is being provided to every village besides developing the airports in the State. He said in two years time the Centre has sanctioned several world class national educational institutions to the State.<br/><br/>Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu speaking on the occasion observed that in the near future Visakhapatnam – Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry) would become a major petroleum hub of the country and that the State has plenty of resources. He said IIPE would generate employment opportunities on a large scale.