British Cabinet Minister for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles on Wednesday said his government was aiming at doubling its trade with India by 2015 from the current £12 billion.
He was speaking at a seminar on ‘UK-built Environment Expertise’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Indian Green Building Congress as part of his two-day visit to the city.
He said the state had enormous potential in infrastructure and transportation sectors and the country is looking forward to join hands with the state to address various challenges.
About the big-ticket infrastructure projects mooted in the state, Eric Pickles said the UK Government is looking for public-private partnership in various sectors in the state.
“The special purpose vessels built at Cochin Shipyard, which ensure safe marine navigation along the Indian coast, were designed and powered by Rolls-Royce Marine. HR Wallingford, a British company, has developed the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal for Petronet LNG at Puthuvype in Kochi,” he said.
“Kerala and Britain are two trading societies heading in the same direction each with a determination and a desire for prosperity and sustainable development. The UK was one of the first countries to develop infrastructure using innovative financing structures. The association between local authorities and businesses would decide the priorities for investment in roads, building and facilities in the local area instead of having it predetermined by bureaucrats,” the minister said.
“The UK has an expertise in urban growth, industrialisation, engineering, architecture and waterfront regeneration. This can be effectively used for the development of the state,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Works Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju said the state government needed the UK support for efficient management of various projects.
Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner; John Nutt, Sonali Patel, Rodney Black, David Lerpiniere, Michael McHugh, Ashis R Choudhary and A Bandyopadhyay also spoke.