CHENNAI: A high-level business delegation from United Kingdom led by Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on Wednesday called on Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and held discussions on varied subjects, including greater investment by British companies in the manufacturing sector in Tamil Nadu and developing a Financial Services Centre in Chennai.
Greater technical cooperation and exchange of information and best practices in the area of public-private partnerships for infrastructure, development of non-conventional energy sources and medical tourism were among the other topics that were discussed.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister invited the UK to participate in the Global Investors’ Meet proposed to be hosted by Tamil Nadu government in Chennai in 2015.
During the talks, Vince Cable pointed out that the investment of UK in India was higher than its investment in the US and Japan combined. He also stated that the UK companies had created one lakh jobs in Tamil Nadu, including 30,000 jobs in the city.
The success of the recent initiative of sending five teachers and 25 students from Government Arts and Science Colleges to universities in UK and intensifying engagements in the area of teacher training were also discussed.
Chief Secretary Mohan Verghese Chunkath recalled the long years of association between Tamil Nadu and the UK. He said the areas of skill development and innovation were accorded highest priority in the Tamil Nadu Vision 2023 Document.
Cable was accompanied by Bharat Suresh Joshi, British Deputy High Commissioner and Mei-Kwei Barker, Director, British Council Division, Chennai. On the government side, Industries Minister P Thangamani, Adviser to Government Sheela Balakrishnan, and others attended the meeting.