West Nottinghamshire College principal and chief executive Asha Khemka OBE is pictured (second row, left) arriving in Mumbai, India, with Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday ahead of his three-day trade mission to the country.
Asha is a member of the largest-ever Prime Ministerial trade delegation to India as part of the Government's determined effort to promote British business abroad and to help Britain succeed in the global race.
It includes leaders of more than 100 companies including multinationals, small and medium sized enterprises, colleges and universities, along with Ministers Lord Green, David Willetts, Hugo Swire and Greg Barker.
They are meeting with a number of Indian Government Ministers, inward investors and businesses in both Mumbai and Delhi, as the Government seeks to link British businesses up to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, predicted to become the third largest by 2050.
Asha was invited to join the delegation in her capacity as principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College and chair of the Association of Colleges (AoC) in India.
AoC in India is a partnership of 32 UK colleges and the Association of Colleges (AoC), set-up to help deliver the UK’s world-class vocational training in India in an effort to meet the country’s growing demand for skills.
Speaking from India, Asha said: “It is a huge honour to be involved in this important mission to India and to join such an esteemed delegation led by the Prime Minister.
“India has an ambition to create 500 million skilled technicians by 2022, which would be a challenge for any country. UK Colleges can make a significant contribution to this agenda, which is what the AoC in India has been set up to support.
“32 colleges from across the UK have joined forces to lend our expertise and strengths in the development and delivery of high-quality vocational education and training in India.
“With India predicted to contribute 25% of the global workforce by 2025, our close links with industrial, educational and governmental partners in India make us ideally-placed to help meet its dynamic aspirations.
“This visit sends another strong message that, as well as attracting Indian students to the UK, we have a commitment to be part of developing India’s skills infrastructure.”
Pictured next to Asha is Priti Patel, MP for Witham; and on the back row are (left) Universities and Science Minister David Willets, and Lord Popat of Harrow.