This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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India encouraged to look to Scotland
07/11/2005
India's leading businesses and research bodies were today encouraged to look to Scotland for investment, collaboration and innovation.
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen, on the first visit to India by a Scottish Minister, told an international conference in New Delhi that Scotland had a huge amount to offer the world's fourth largest economic power.
Speaking after the Indian President and Russian Education Minister had opened the event, Mr Stephen told hundreds of delegates at the 'India R&D 2005 conference':
"Scotland has world class universities and research institutes. We also have a growing number of companies that recognise the huge potential of doing bus with India in key areas like life sciences and energy.
"Only this week the strength of Scotland's position in life sciences has gained very significant recognition. Glasgow and Dundee universities were voted in the top five in the world to work in life sciences by the influential Scientist magazine.
"Scotland has world class strengths, we are open for business, open for innovation and open for partnership - between universities and companies from across the world. I hope that delegates will take a close look at Scotland and our research universities and companies and that they will see will see ways to collaborate for the benefit of Scotland and India."