Hooda seeks British cooperation in education, IT

Chandigarh, Jan 15 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today sought collaboration of British institutions of higher learning in setting up the proposed Rajiv Gandhi Education City in the state.

Interacting with a British business delegation led by Lord Karan Bilimoria in New Delhi, Mr Hooda also sought British cooperation in areas of information technology, pharmaceuticals, environment technologies, advanced and cutting edge technologies like biotech, nano-tech, new materials, alternative energy sources and other knowledge driven sectors, official sources here said.

On his part, Lord Karan Bilimoria said the track record of Haryana Government was really impressive for investment and the British entrepreneurs were now looking forward for a mutually beneficial investment in Haryana.

Mr Hooda also sought investments in the areas of food processing, agriculture retailing and exports and said Haryana had emerged as the most preferred investment destination for Britain.

He said during his recent visit to Europe, investment of Rs 12,000 crore (1.25 billion pounds) was mobilised. At present, he said, Haryana had more than 70 financial and technical collaborations with the British companies involving an investment of more than Rs 800 crore (83 million pounds), he added.

Haryana, he said, was home to a number of multi-national companies like Honda, Mitsubishi, JC Bamford, Bandi, Baxter, Johnson Matthey, IBM, Smithkline Beecham, Suzuki and Nestle.

These companies had invested more than 4.16 billion pounds in the state and were running successful businesses.

Exports from the state exceeded more than 2.6 billion pounds, he added.

He said the location of the state having proximity to national capital Delhi and the Indira Gandhi International Airport made it all the more a preferred destination for investment.

UNI