"Dorset can drive Indian animation business"

Looking at alliances across aviation and aerospace, luxury yatch, animation, construction, food, bio-pharma, electronics and others, Peter Scott, chief executive of UK-based Dorset Business, the Chamber of Commerce of Industry, is leading a delegation of industry personnel to India.

"In Pune, we are looking at forming alliances in the construction, specialty treatment services like sewage treatment and disposal, bio-pharma and creative media among others," Rose Brooman, trade development manager of UK Trade & Investment (South West), said.

Speaking about the huge opportunity in animation in India, Scott said: "There is a requirement for 25,000 animation professionals in the country where as only 5,000 are produced currently. We can help bridge that gap."

Dorset is the home town of animation company Aardman, which is also interested in India for forming strategic alliances.

The delegation was on a whirlwind tour of Western India, and the delegation stopped over at Pune after a two-day visit to Mumbai . It's next halt is Bangalore. "We are here to get a better understanding of the market and hope to initiate reciprocal visits to Dorset," Scott said.