§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement regarding the Minister for Trade's recent visit to India as part of the Indo-British partnership technology week.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe technology week, which was led by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, involved a938W reports and submissions produced by the committee over the last three financial years.
series of seminars and exhibitions in Calcutta, New Delhi, Bombay and Madras. The trade mission was the largest of its kind to date.
Organised under the Indo-British partnership initiative, in which the private sector works closely with my Department, the mission was designed to demonstrate United Kingdom technological capability across a number of industrial sectors. These include infrastructure, power, electronics, food processing, design and telecommunications.
Using Concorde, itself an example of British technology, to fly more than 80 business men to the four major business centres in India enabled the mission to secure considerable additional local publicity.
I am pleased to say that more than half the business group were small to medium-sized companies, many of them visiting this undoubtedly expanding market for the first time.
During a highly successful week a significant number of business transactions were completed, as the summary shows. Other business deals are expected to develop in the future. Further events are planned for next year and beyond.
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Agreements and Announcements during "Concorde Week" Agreement/Announcement Rolls Royce/RPG An agreement to refurbish power stations Caparo/Maruti Motor components Phillips Electronics Launch of pagers High Value Horticulture Three agreements (fast growing trees for matches/soya beans/nursery development for medicinal plants) Checkpoint Security Services Security printing Taylor Woodrow JV for roads in Rajasthan Costain Narmada bridge in Gujarat RBF International JV for industrial parks TR Fastenings JV for industrial fasteners Warwick University JV with CII on centres of excellence Indo-British Partnership New science and technology scheme with Government of India, including advanced technical training.
Agreements and Announcements during "Concorde Week" Agreement/Announcement Indo-British Partnership Restoration of selected historic of selected historic buildings with industrial sponsorship. Indo-British Partnership Proposal for an industrial park in Tamil Nadu. Opening of new factory by Munradtech (industrial generators)
New Collaborative relationship in specialised but vital area of electro-magnetic compatibility.
Also many direct deals e.g. moulded plastics/electronic testing equipment/construction.
Positive discussions on revitalisation of jute industry in West Bengal.
New commercial relationship in coal mining.