Gujaratstartups, SURAT: Technical and modern textiles, manufacturing and infrastructure and education have been identified as key and priority areas by Britain while exploring business opportunities in Surat and south Gujarat. British deputy high commissioner Peter Beckingham while talking to TOI during his two-day trade visit to the city identified these areas and said that in coming five years a lot of positive development in these fields will be seen.

"We don't want to miss out on a city with five million people and showing more than 11.32 per cent of annual growth rate on a regular basis," said Beckingham and added, "City is comparable to Birmingham of Britain and has a lot of potential in fields of innovations in modern textile and technical textiles."

It is also likely that a group of textile businessmen from South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI) with the support of British High Commission will visit UK some time later this year for exploring further. A group will be constituted and made up of couple of British trade advisors and couple of representatives of SGCCI to take the strategic positioning further. It is also very likely that Britain will participate in the next business exhibition of SGCCI, called Udyog in next January.

British expertise in the field of education is another area where educational institutions and trusts from the city can benefit. "I would like to see number of British teachers and educationists coming over to India to take the possibility further," said Beckingham. "Education along with sustainability and climate change is the areas where British can help a lot and we are working on a possibility," added Beckingham.

He incidentally visited city's oldest and biggest educational trust run schools and colleges on Tuesday.

Talking of British presence at present in the fields like chemical and pharmaceuticals, deputy high commissioner said that these associations will go on and prosper but in the field of solar energy that has assumed vital significance after Japan tsunami and earthquake and damage to nuclear power plants the association with TATA and reliance will play a vital in coming years.

Source: Times Of India