Mr. Thomas Vilsack, Governor of Iowa State of USA and Mr. B.Gopalakrishna Reddy, Minister for Small Scale Industries & Biotechnology, Andhra Pradesh signed a MoU for collaboration to promote research and business in the field of Biotechnology for mutual benefits. The MoU was signed in Washington on 24th June, 2003 in connection with International Biotech conference BIO-2003 being held there. Speaking on the occasion Governor Vilsack mentioned about various advances made by Iowa in agri-biotechnology and bio-medical research. He recalled the contributions of Dr. Norman Borlaug, who belongs to Iowa State, towards Green Revolution in India. Mr. B.Gopalakrishna Reddy, Minister of Andhra Pradesh, highlighted the initiatives of the State Government to promote biotechnology and emphasized the need for collaboration in the field of agri-biotechnology, which will help the farmers to improve their productivity. Dr. D.Balasubramanian, Chairman of State Biotech Advisory Committee and Mr. B.P.Acharya, Secretary, Industries and Commerce and others were also present during the function.