UK industries keen to invest in state

Impressed by geological and geographical advantage of Orissa and its industry friendly approach, about 13 business houses based at United Kingdom are currently touring the state to explore investment opportunities.

The companies include globally acknowledged Lloyd's Register Group, Stemcor, Atkins Global , WSP and other houses, which have evinced interest to invest in areas like infrastructure, mining, mineral processing, education and climate change, engineering and specialist services in the state.

“We have discussed with the Bhubaneswar municipal commissioner about a project which involves providing round the clock water supply to both Bhubaneswar and Cuttack citizens. The discussion was positive,” said Bob Taylor, business development director of Sembcorp Utilities Services Ltd, part of the 13 companies delegation led by UK trade and investment of British High Commission.

Sembcorp is also planning to invest in waste water treatment and power generation business in the state, Taylor said on the sidelines of “Uk and Odisha: In Partnership” seminar organised here in association with Confederation of Indian Industry.

The state government officials, present in the seminar, assured these British companies all cooperation if they came up with any proposal to invest here.

“We need expertise and technology in mineral excavation and also for setting up of petroleum product units at our proposed petro complex region. We will be needing their assistance,” said Priyabrata Patnaik, chairman and managing director of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (Idco). The UK trade and investment department will organise another such event in January next year, informed a British High Commission official.