The Hindu Business Line : Britain offers expertise to help transform Bengal

Britain has offered its expertise in the development of infrastructure to help transform Kolkata and West Bengal. The State could also draw lessons from Britain's experience with private public partnership (PPP) funding for infrastructure projects, according to Mr Ian McCartney, United Kingdom's Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs.

Speaking at an interactive session on `Developing 21st Century Infrastructure' organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here on Friday, Mr McCartney said generating funds for infrastructure projects was a challenge for any government. "Britain has risen to meet this challenge by adding PPP funding to our financial resources. We have more experience of delivering public service projects using PPP than any other country in the world." "By the end of last year, 780 PPP projects worth a total of £53 billion had been signed in the UK. There are another £26 billion worth of deals in the pipeline over the next four years," he said.

"I want British infrastructure skills to help transform Kolkata and West Bengal. And I believe our PPP models can help achieve this. But it will not be easy. Developing 21st Century infrastructure, whether it is ports, hospitals, schools or housing is very difficult. It requires vision, technical know how and money. Your leaders have the vision. The UK has the technical know how. And UK expertise can be tapped to help find sources of money," he said, adding that West Bengal was "just getting into its stride in the globalisation race. I want Britain and West Bengal to be running partners".

Mr McCartney said British companies had the potential to deliver top-quality, on budget and on time infrastructure to West Bengal. "It will give a great boost to your business too. It's a win-win," he said.

According to him, the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) has earmarked £35 million for several social sector projects in West Bengal this year. The next phase of DFID assistance to the State would be finalised soon, Mr McCartney said.

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