New Delhi, May 19: The uproar in Britain over offshoring to India notwithstanding, British High Commissioner Michael Arthur today said the UK companies will not be discouraged to shift their Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) activities to India. ''The British companies were entering in a big way to have BPO activities through contract, joint ventures, acquisition and India was becoming their destination. The British government is keen on enhancing economic relations with India,'' Arthur said at a meeting organised by the Assocham here.
He said in this context, six strategic areas for alliances had been identified, which are agriculture, biotechnology, education and training, environment and energy, coal and mining and sales to the third countries.
The British High Commissioner agreed to the proposal mooted by Assocham president Mahendra K Sanghi for strengthening cooperation particularly in R&D, IT, water management and developing joint products through value addition
''UK is the second biggest business partner of India and was receiving the highest numbers of Indians, particularly as tourists, students and businessmen. While the economic relations have already reached 10 billion dollars by end-2003, there was huge potential which needs to be tapped through strategic alliances,'' he said.
Sanghi said there was much scope for strengthening commercial, economic and cultural interactions. ''We believe that there would be opportunities in areas like information technology, biotechnology, health and education services, entertainment, auto components and food processing from trade as well as investment perspectives.'' The development of roads and ports sectors in India through public-private partnership has also created immense opportunities for the British construction and maritime equipment industry, Sanghi added.
Bureau Report