Nigel Huddleston, UK Minister for International Trade, and senior officials and representatives of the Government of West Bengal made announcements for strengthening cooperation between West Bengal and the UK in e-mobility and sustainable construction sectors.

The announcement was made at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, Kolkata.

It was graced by Nigel Huddleston, UK Minister for International Trade, Nick Low, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India, Debashis Sen, Chairman, NKDA, Anoop Kumar Agrawal, Principal Secretary, Department of Technical Education, Training and Skill Development, Government of West Bengal, Anna Shotbolt, Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia, British High Commission and others.

The announcements made were as follows:

E-mobility training programs in India and the UK will help in providing skill training, improvement in employability, and opening partnerships between the two countries on EV skilling.

Making a roadmap for establishing an Intelligent Mobility Skilling Centre. It will be the first of such centers in the country and will help increase jobs and investment and innovation in the e-mobility industry.

For creating a knowledge-sharing partnership between Connected Places Catapult and NKDA. It will help create a business model for shared two-wheeler electric vehicles, reducing emissions, and bettering the quality of the air and transport accessibility. It will unlock green finance for city infrastructure creation.

MoU signing between the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Department of Technical Education Training and Skill Development, Government of West Bengal on the upskilling project.

Speaking at the occasion, Nick Low said “We want UK and India to work together and help create skilled jobs and work for the betterment of the electric mobility sector”.

Debashis Sen highlighted that the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium is a glowing testimony to changes happening in Bengal. He also stressed how British assistance is beneficial for the smart city proposal.

Nigel Huddleston, UK Minister for International Trade said “It is a practical plan that will help transform the relationship between India and the UK. This will lead to mutual prosperity and double trade for both countries. Both India and the UK want to be a force to be reckoned with. Climate change is a great threat for all humans. Practical cooperation between the two countries for climate change is what is needed”.

By working together, the transition to zero-emission vehicles will be faster, pocket friendly, and accessible to all strata of society.

Priyanka Dutta