Date:23/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/23/stories/2008052355661400.htm

National

U.K. businesses invited to invest in infrastructure

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: India on Wednesday offered a greater role to British businesses in developing its physical and social infrastructure, and invited British investment in higher education.

Ashwani Kumar, Union Minister of State for Industry, told his British counterpart, Digby Jones, during a meeting here that India planned to spend $1.5 trillion on infrastructure development over the next 10 years offering an opportunity to British businesses.

Other areas where India was keen for Britain to invest included higher education and skills upgradation, he said, stressing the need for what he described as a more “purposeful engagement” between Indian and British businesses across a wide spectrum.

Lord Jones urged India to open up its financial, insurance, legal and accountancy sectors to British investment.