British Dy PM Clegg bats for increased student exchanges, calls for generating more jobs, within India and UK

Batting for increased student exchanges between the United Kingdom and India, British Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg today called for generating more jobs and growth in both the nations using the powerful links that his country shares with India.

The British deputy prime minister said, "Leading the first UK-trade delegation, since the new government here in India was elected. We want to build on our country's powerful links to generate more jobs and growth together."

Clegg while narrating the purpose of his visit to India offered his country's help to modernise India's infrastructure with investment and expertise and also in India's education sector.

"Our bilateral trade is over 16 billion pounds and rising, India is looking for capital; the city of London is the world's leading financial centre India is focused on modernizing its infrastructure, and the UK has the investment, the expertise and the experience to make that happen. India needs to equip it's growing young population with the right skills for the best jobs, the UK has the world class education sector to help India's government do it.," Clegg added.

The visiting UK's deputy premier declared that Indian students were welcome in his country and batted for reciprocal student exchanges from his country. He also talked about the launching of new generation UK-India programme to help 25,000 more British students develop professional and personal links that will benefit their whole lives.

"We want everyone to know that Indian students are warmly welcomed in the United Kingdom. We also want more UK students to spend time here. As India works to expand education sector both academically and vocationally, we want to boost those ties with more students exchanges, joint research projects and learning partnerships," he further added.

Clegg who is presently on a three-day visit to India met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. He also paid tribute at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the memorial dedicated to the Unknown Soldier, and visited Bangla Sahib Gurudwara where he was presented a memento by the Gurudwara authorities.

Clegg is leading a 50-member trade delegation to promote investment in the British food, retail, education, defence and aerospace sector.

He will also be visiting Mumbai and Bangalore.