The Hindu Business Line : British Minister interested in AP e-governance initiatives

Hyderabad April 10 The British E-Government Minister, Mr Pat McFadden, has evinced interest in the e-governance initiatives of the Andhra Pradesh Government, during his two-day visit to the State Capital.

In his discussions with the State Secretary, Information Technology (IT), Mr S.K. Joshi and interactions with the representatives of the IT industry, Mr McFadden shared the experiences of UK and Andhra Pradesh in the implementation of e-governance projects.

The British Minister, who was in city on Monday and Tuesday, visited a e-Seva centre, spent time with the National Institute of Smart Governance, the Centre for Good Governance, for which the UK has provided funding.

Mr McFadden had a first-hand experience of the range of IT-enabled initiatives that the State Government put in place in governance as well as citizen-centric services that were being delivered.

Sharing experience

The British Minister observed, "This visit is very much about sharing the experience in both the UK and India of how technology can be used to improve service delivery and make life easier for citizens.

Both the UK and India have significant expertise in IT and I'm sure a deeper dialogue on these issues can benefit both countries."

"We have to get beyond the idea that globalisation is a one-way street where jobs are simply transferred from developed economies to rising new economic powers like India through outsourcing and off-shoring.

Globalisation is a two way street, and there are now a growing number of Indian companies who are investing and creating jobs here in the UK," he said according to a High Commission release.

Mr McFadden will be in New Delhi in the next two days to hold talks with Indian Government Ministers and major Indian IT and software firms. His discussions will include Indian firms who have already invested in the UK or who may possibly do so in future.

About 60 per cent of the country's investment to Europe comes to the UK and over 500 Indian companies have operations in the UK in sectors such as ICT, automotive components and pharmaceuticals.

Companies such as Tata Consultancy Services employ over 2,000 people in the UK, Infosys has about 1,400 staff there and HCL employs around 1,800 people in that country.

More Stories on : E-Governance | Foreign Trade | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
The continuing `collateral damage' in Iraq

G-4 trade ministers meeting on April 12

Drug policy: Govt to hear views again

AP Govt mulls wind power policy

Tax dept must put faith in tech: Chidambaram

British Minister interested in AP e-governance initiatives