London: The British government and UK-based investors are keen to invest in India's transport infrastructure, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.
Prabhu was in London this week on the invitation of two senior UK government ministers—minister for government policy in the Cabinet Office Oliver Letwin and transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin—to hold meetings at 10 Downing Street and London Stock Exchange (LSE) to explore ways in which the UK can engage with India.
"This was quite an unusual event they organised for me, to invite all the top bankers, funds, investors at the level of decision-makers and the financial world's who's who to find out how they can contribute to India's growth story," he said at a press briefing at India House here. “They were keen to find out how they can engage with India's transport sector, particularly railways. We have embarked upon a very ambitious programme on reforming and advancing the railway network. They were all completely aware of it and were keen to participate," the minister said.
Describing his visit as an "extremely useful" exercise from the perspective of "sensitising" the British government as well as London-based investors and transport operators, Prabhu added: "Infrastructure is critical and they are keen to participate in the infrastructure development of India."
These were all the top funds of the world with headquarters in London who are aware that the key driver of growth for the global economy as a whole will be infrastructure.
It has the ability to lift the global economy. “And, today there is no other single country in the world which has so much of appetite for infrastructure investment as much as India."
