British Deputy High Commissioner Mr. David Lelliott today called on Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at Chief Minister's residence this morning and evinced keen interest in setting up joint ventures in Education, Skill development training, Retail, Transport and agro-sector activities.Mr. David who was accompanied by Senior Trade & Investment Adviser to British Trade Office at Chandigarh Ms. Tanisha Thiara, offered to start collaborative ventures with the state Government of Mutual interests and benefits. He informed the Chief Minister that various universities in the United Kingdom had signed several MoUs with IIT Ropar for partnership in research works and teaching programm and now they were looking to initiate skill development training program for generating skilled work force for the various trades. He also informed that British Council would initiate joint venture with two Community Colleges of the state at Jalandhar and Bathinda.
The Chief Minister desired for a serious and meaningful cooperation with UK, especially in Education and Skill development training. Mr. Badal apprised the British Deputy High Commissioner that their Government had launched a health care program to combat cancer by establishing a network of well-equipped Cancer Treatment Hospitals in the state and asked the UK government to provide technical support in this regard which would be a great service towards the people inflicted with cancer. Likewise in the field of Education the state government had initiated special program to provide quality education free of cost to the brilliant rural students with poor background. He impressed upon Mr. David to plan teacher exchange program under which the state government would make arrangements for the boarding and lodging of the interested retire teachers from UK to visit Punjab to impart training to our teachers.
To address the issues related IT, Mr. Badal also accepted the offer to initiate joint efforts to redress the issues related to IT sector and Cyber crime. He directed the Police and IT departments to work out a meaningful action program in this regard.Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Principal Secretary to the CM Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretaries to CM Mr. KJS Cheema and Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar.