Richard Stagg, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee discuss several issues

Kolkata, Dec 5 (UNI) British High Commissioner to India Richard Stagg met West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here today and disussed a range of issues.

Official sources said both of them talked on issues, including political, cultural, business and development.

The newly appointed British High Commissioner, who arrived here on a two-day visit, expressed optimism that the UK companies would proactively consider investing in the state.

He pointed at the growing number of the UK trade and business missions that visited the state recently.

Mr Bhattacharjee and Mr Stagg also discussed the progress of Department for International Development (DFID) supported programmes in West Bengal.

The UK and the West Bengal Government have agreed to focus on health and nutrition, rural decentralisation and urban development in the next three years.

At present DFID's support to West Bengal ranges from 30 million pounds (Rs. 240 crore) a year for health sector development initiative, strengtheing of rural decentralisation, Kolkata urban services for the poor programme, Kolkata environmental improvement project and civil society support programme.

Earlier, Mr Stagg called on West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and visited the West Bengal Assembly. He also had a meeting with Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim.

UNI