Scotland today expressed its keenness to enhance strong cooperation with India in the field of renewable energy.
"Scotland is a home of renewables when it comes to offshore, onshore, marine and tidal technology. It is the only country in Europe which has a marine tidal testing centre and also Europe biggest offshore windfarm. India's energy needs are massive and we have to see what we can do in terms of collaboration in this sector," Scotland External Affairs minister Humza Yousaf said today.
He said Scotland was keen to collaborate with India in other key sectors of education and innovation.
With the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow in 2014, the Queen's Baton will arrive in Delhi as its first stop before travelling to 71 commonwealth countries.
Humza said that the Queen's baton is a hook for building a lot of trade, education and cultural meetings and start closure relations and collaborations between Scotland and India.
"So when we are having the games, there will be plenty of opportunities in trade and investment in the days leading up to the opening ceremony. India is such an important market for us. There are some natural collaborations with India like education being a big one, energy and innovation as well as tourism side," Humza said.
He maintained that international students make upto 16 per cent of Scotland's student cohort, with Indians representing six per cent of all overseas student. It is exactly four years since the signing of MoUs between Scotland universities and Association of Indian Universities which was aimed at enhancing linkages between institutions, he said.
"Every single Scottish university has some sort of collaboration with Indian educational institution. Tourism in terms of golf tourism and luxury food and drink is a huge market for us. India also does a lot in innovations like life science, skills and technology sector. Innovation, energy and education are the key sectors which we are focusing on," Humza said.
