Karnataka seeks Britain's help to set up aerospace centre

Karnataka Wednesday sought Britain's help in setting up an aerospace technology centre in this tech hub modelled on the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, a consortium of seven world leading research centres headquartered in West Midlands in Britain.

"As a first step towards greater collaboration, I seek your cooperation in helping our state set up the aerospace technology centre in Bangalore along the lines of HVM Catapult," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told visiting British Deputy Premier Nick Clegg here.

Referring to the 1-billion pound line of credit from UK Export Finance for infrastructure projects in India, including the Bangalore-Mumbai Economic Corridor, Siddaramaiah said the project would boost the region's economic growth and the state was looking forward to its joint implementation with Britain.

The ambitious project, which will pass through industrial cities and towns of Karnataka and Maharashtra, is expected to attract multi-crore investments in the manufacturing and services sectors and create thousands of jobs across the corridor between the two neighbouring states.

The chief minister also invited British firms to invest in the proposed National Manufacturing Industrial Zone (NMIZ) at Tumkur, about 70 km from here, and help the micro, small and medium enterprises in the manufacturing sector.

"We want to partner with Britain in education, health investment, trade and other potential areas for further socio-economic development of the state," Siddaramaiah told Clegg.