British deputy premier opens tech hub in Bangalore

Visiting British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg Wednesday unveiled a new tech hub and a joint business centre in this tech city to facilitate Indo-British businesses to share expertise and boost trade between the two countries.

"India is at a major crossroads in its economic destiny, and Bangalore is a shining example of how technological expertise can be harnessed to create a powerhouse for growth," Clegg said on the occasion.

Lauding the technical prowess of Bangalore, Clegg said the city was among the top 10 preferred destinations for entrepreneurs globally and home to more start-ups than any other city in the Indian sub-continent.

"What I see in Bangalore is that India's prowess in aerospace and hi-tech is growing fast. This is a fertile ground for British and Indian firms to do business, as evident from the deals by our firms to set up their shop here," Clegg asserted.

The tech hub aims to grow 1,000 start-ups in the next three years and link them with British firms in Britain, while the business centre, second in the country after the first such centre was set up in New Delhi, will provide support to British businesses expanding their operations in India.

Clegg also inaugurated the India base of the leading British manufacturer of machines Group Rhodes' here, with prospects of creating 50-60 jobs at Wakefield in West Yorkshire in Britain and an additional 60 jobs in Bangalore in research and development, engineering, design and supply chain management.

The Wakefield-based Rhodes has recently signed a 2-million pounds (Rs.20 crore) contract with the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) defence behemoth for the joint development of aerospace projects.

Leading British aerospace and defence supply chain service provider Pattonair plc will open its office in Bangalore by this year-end to help boost its supply chain in India and provide real-time services to its Indian clients.

Clegg also announced that Britain's engineering major Renishaw plc would set up a metal 3D printing centre at Pune in Maharashtra to supply products used for applications as diverse as jet engines and wind turbines.

"Renishaw is the only British firm that designs and makes industrial machines which 'print' parts from metal powder. Its Pune centre will collaborate with its key locations at Gloucestershire and Miskin in South Wales," Clegg added.

Clegg later visited the Airbus India facility in the city for a firsthand view of its advanced simulation to test aircraft parts.

The French aerospace major does computer modelling at the facility and links up live to its teams in Britain to run the tests on actual parts such as wings.

Clegg, who is on a maiden visit to India with a large trade delegation, was in New Delhi Monday and Mumbai Tuesday for official and business meetings.