Gujarat, West Midlands Explore Education, Green Economy and AI Collaboration Following UK–India Trade Deal
High-level West Midlands delegation meets CM Bhupendra Patel to deepen ties in higher education, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and sports infrastructure ahead of 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Gandhinagar— A high-level delegation from the West Midlands Combined Authority met Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar during its first official visit to the state following the recent India–UK trade agreement.
The delegation, led by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, held wide-ranging discussions on strengthening cooperation in higher education, the green economy and electric vehicles, skill development, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing.
With Gujarat set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, both sides also explored potential collaboration in developing sports infrastructure and expanding the broader sports ecosystem in the run-up to the event.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Patel said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has “emerged as a trusted friend to nations across the world.” He noted that Gujarat has benefited significantly from policy-driven governance and sustained investment outreach since the launch of the Vibrant Gujarat initiative in 2003.
“Gujarat has evolved into a global investment destination through sector-specific policies and consistent reforms,” the Chief Minister said.
Referring to the vision of “Viksit Bharat-2047,” Patel added that the state is prepared to lead in emerging sectors, particularly green growth, and is ready to extend full cooperation in areas of partnership identified by the UK side.
Members of the visiting delegation expressed interest in leveraging UK expertise in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and university-led innovation. They also invited Chief Minister Patel and a senior Gujarat delegation to visit the West Midlands as part of preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
To institutionalize cooperation, Patel proposed the formation of a joint working group comprising officials from Gujarat and the West Midlands to coordinate initiatives and accelerate collaboration. He suggested designating iNDEXTb as the nodal agency for this effort and invited the delegation to participate in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference and the Vibrant Summit 2027.
The delegation included senior representatives from the West Midlands Growth Company, E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions, University of Warwick Innovation District, University of Birmingham, Global Education (GEDU), Aston University, and the India Global Forum.
Senior Gujarat government officials, including Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) Mamta Verma and Industries Commissioner P. Swaroop, were also present at the meeting. (Source: IANS)
