The British Deputy High Commissioner Mr. David Lelliott today called on Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majthia and discussed in detail the various issues regarding close cooperation in fields of education, health, skill development, ecology and renewable energy. Mr. Lelliot discussed with NRI Affairs Minister the various MoUs signed between United Kingdom universities and IIT Ropar for long term collaboration in research as well as teaching programs. He underlined the need to initiate special skill development programs for generating skilled work force for the various emerging trades. He informed that British Council would soon initiate joint venture with two Community Colleges of the state at Jalandhar and Bathinda.
He further informed that UK Energy & Climate Change Minister would visit Punjab on September 2 to explore the possibilities of mutual cooperation in the field of saving ecology. He said that the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) works to make sure the UK has secure, clean, affordable energy supplies and promote international action to mitigate climate change.
Welcoming the UK government’s initiatives for saving environment, Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia briefly outlined the Punjab government’s concerted efforts for promotion of clean and green energy in the form of harnessing Solar and Biomass potential and a very liberal and investor friendly NRSE Policy-2012. He said that after allotting Solar power plants of joint capacity of 250 MW, the State was all set to allot 300 MW Biomass power plants very soon. He impressed upon the British Deputy High Commissioner to urge UK companies to invest in solar as well as biomass and Solar Rooftop sectors in Punjab and assured full cooperation from the state government. He also sought cooperation in improving the standard of higher education besides technological guidance in health sectors. He said that he would soon convene a meeting of Administrative Secretaries of concerned department with British Deputy High Commissioner to explore the possibilities of various fields of mutual interest. Dr. SS Channy, Principal Secretary, NRI Affairs was also present on the occasion.