CM's ideas 'interesting and bold', says British High Commissioner to India after meeting

Stating that the ideas of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for development of the state are "interesting and bold", British High Commissioner to India, Dominic Asquith, said: "Besides education and research, Britain is interested in investing in many other sectors in Bengal."

Asquith met the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat, Nabanna, on Thursday and the meeting continued for around an hour. It may be mentioned that UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson met Banerjee in January, a day ahead of the Bengal Global Business Summit and had assured collaboration with Bengal in education and research sector. He said after the meeting: "The Chief Minister has many interesting and bold ideas.

We want British companies to compete in every single area of the economy besides education or research."

The Chief Minister is trying to build and develop the economy of the state and Britain is interested in developing the relationship with Bengal in all sectors including science, medicine, trade, research and education. Asquith reached Kolkata on Thursday afternoon and he has a series of programme till Sunday when he will be meeting Finance Minister Amit Mitra besides attending medical conferences. On Friday he is scheduled to attend a programme at the Institute of Neurosciences that engaged into a collaborative venture with Newcastle University.Our Correspondent