UK sees big infrastructure opportunities in India

Massive new opportunities are opening up for building roads, bridges and other infrastructure facilities for UK businesses in India, UK-India Business Council Chairperson Patricia Hewitt said.

"From consultancy and legal expertise to building and operating Indian roads and other projects, the UK has world-class expertise. UKIBC will bring British businesses together to ensure that we assist in meeting India's infrastructure needs," she said.

Hewitt was speaking at the Highways Infrastructure Round Table organised by UK India Business council and CII, which was also addressed by India's minister for road transport and highways Kamal Nath.

At the meet Nath unveiled the "largest public private partnership programme in the world" for building 7,000 km of roads annually at an investment of $80 billion over the next 3-4 years. The minister's proposal was greeted by UK PLC with a positive response, an UKIBC press release said.

Hewitt said "our legal, financial, engineering consultants and surveyors have a great deal to offer. To bring the best of India and the UK together, we should make a concerted effort to set up a 'PPP centre of excellence'. This collaboration will be a true catalyst for developing infrastructure in India, not just highways, but also ports, power stations and water infrastructure."