Indian govt's 'Skill India' agenda on the plate, British delegation to visit India

London: Two key ministers along with a delegation will visit India to showcase the UK’s higher education, research, science, innovation and technology capabilities that can help India’s growth story and the Indian government’s “Skill India” agenda. Sajid Javid MP, Britain’s Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science will visit India for three days. They will visit New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai from Wednesday to meet Indian students and faculty and ministers in the central and state Governments to build on the success of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK last month, specifically in the fields of higher education, skills and research co-operation. [caption id=“attachment_2539322” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational Image. PTI[/caption] Building on Modi’s statement that the UK remains a “preferred destination for Indian students,” the Secretary of State and Minister will showcase the UK’s higher education, research, science, innovation and technology capabilities that can help India’s growth story and the Indian Government’s “Skill India” agenda. Javid said: “Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UK electrified the UK-India relationship, setting new, more ambitious goals for our shared future. This includes the UK helping India meet its ever-growing need for skills, education and research, for which the UK is perfectly placed.” A British education is a quality-mark and a passport to global success, with four of the world’s top-ten universities in the UK. Many Indian Prime Ministers, scientists, economists and business leaders who played a pivotal role in shaping modern India benefited from studying in the UK. “I want to see India’s future leaders in all fields take advantage of what the UK has to offer, which is why I’m coming to India so soon after Modi’s visit,” said Javid. Both Ministers will begin the visit in New Delhi where Sajid Javid will launch the Midlands Engine initiative in India, marked by an alumni event in partnership the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The event will promote the UK’s Midlands region as a hub for innovation and manufacturing, highlighting how British and Indian technology and brainpower can work together with companies like Jaguar Land Rover, and alumni from top British universities from the region to fuel growth in both countries. British Indian businesses leader and Chancellor of Birmingham University, Lord Karan Billimoria, as well as Vice Chancellors from Universities of Birmingham, Leicester and Warwick will participate in the discussions. He will call on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani, and Minister for Commerce Nirmala Sithraman. British and Indian business leaders and senior academics including Dame Nancy Rothwell the Vice Chancellor of Manchester University and Professor Colin Riordan, Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University will participate in discussions. PTI