Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj with British Minister Priti Patel.
British Minister for International Development Priti Patel today called on Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and offered 5 lakh pounds in assistance and expertise to the state, primarily for the proposed smart cities.
A delegation led by Ms Patel, including British High Commissioner to India Dominic Asquith, met Chouhan at his official residence and offered five lakh pounds assistance from the Department for International Development of United Kingdom, responsible for administering overseas aid, besides technical expertise to the state primarily for smart cities, a senior state government official said.
As per the official, Mr Chouhan requested the British Minister for International Development that he will be overwhelmed if UK partners the Madhya Pradesh's Global Investors' Summit (GIS) in October, to which she readily agreed.
The chief minister thanked Ms Patel for her gesture, the official said.
In reciprocation, the British Minister invited Mr Chouhan to address a business seminar in UK - that was gladly accepted by the chief minister, he said.
Ms Patel held talks with Mr Chouhan for business opportunities in Madhya Pradesh, especially in food processing industry and areas open for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), he added.
Ms Patel also lauded the socio-economic rapid changes and development taking place in Madhya Pradesh, the official said.