India, UK CEOs decide to set up Advanced Mfg Technology Centre

The India-UK CEO Forum today announced setting up of an Advanced Material and Manufacturing Technology Centre in India, modeled on the high-value catapult centres of the United Kingdom.
The Forum's meeting coincided with the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May here.
The centre will be established with equal participation from both the governments, industry members and the academia.
"The proposed centre will focused on establishing Advanced Manufacturing capabilities having primary applications in Defence and Aerospace sector in India," said a release by industry body CII.
"Once established, the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technology Centre will be at the forefront of the Make in India and Skill India programmes of the Government of India," it said.

As per Catapult Programme website, "The Catapult centres are a network of world-leading centres designed to transform the UK's capability for innovation in specific areas and help drive future economic growth."

CII and the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC) are the secretariat to the India UK CEO Forum.
The Forum also acknowledged the strength of the bilateral economic relationship. The UK is the largest G20 investor in India and India is the third-largest investor and second-largest job creator in the UK economy.
The Forum said it is committed to addressing issues in bilateral trade and investment, as well as pursuing new areas for collaboration.

The Forum, which met for the first time since the UK voted to exit the EU, described it as an opportunity to build a new, stronger UK-India trade and investment relationship and welcomed the commitment of both Governments to achieving this stronger relationship.
It was decided that CII and UKIBC will prepare a paper for the Governments regarding the main opportunities, trade and other barriers, and recommendations and solutions.
Indian members of the Forum raised several issues with the UK side including easing global talent mobility in the UK, addressing technology-related skills shortage in the UK, avoiding double taxation for Indian industry, according mutual recognition of qualifications and institutionalising a social security totalisation agreement.

They also sought further clarity and certainty in emerging policies post-Brexit.
The CEO Forum also discussed collaboration and capacity building in the area of insolvency as India implements a major reform through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016.
Another focus area that emerged was the need to cooperate in the tourism sector as there were several opportunities for Indian companies to invest in that area.