UK official visits Meerut’s Sports Manufacturing

Cluster, lauds Yogi Govt’s ODOP initiative

Gemmell says, UK eyeing long-term collaboration of its companies with sports goods manufacturers of Meerut

Meerut, April 11: British Trade Commissioner for South Asia Alan Gemmell has praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s 'One District, One Product' initiative for supporting local industry and boosting the cluster ecosystem. The ODOP scheme aims to preserve, develop and boost the demand of local arts and crafts.

Gemmell, who visited Meerut’s Sports Manufacturing Cluster, which is being supported by the ODOP programme, congratulated the Government of Uttar Pradesh for coming up with such an ambitious, systematic and holistic scheme and said that the UK Government would like to explore long-term collaboration of its companies with sports goods manufacturers of Meerut. He also visited Bhalla Sports Pvt. Ltd, Hans Rubber Industries and Stanford Cricket Industries in Meerut.

The two-day visit included meetings with potential industry/business hubs, assessment of foreign investment, approach regulation and skills available in the local labour force as well as education / training taking place. The visit aimed at exploring opportunities for the UK in the sports goods manufacturing sector in Meerut in the next 10 years.

Navneet Sehgal, Additional Chief Secretary, MSME, Government of Uttar Pradesh said: "We are delighted to host British Trade Commissioner for South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India Alan Gemmell in Meerut. We are happy that he got a chance to see the sports goods in Meerut. Cricket has always brought India and the UK together.”

"Furthermore, the synergy between India and the UK in the field of trade has also been remarkable. The terracotta of Gorakhpur, chikankari of Lucknow and black salt rice of Siddharthnagar are in great demand in Britain and we hope more products from our 'One District, One Product' make their mark in the UK. The British Trade Commission has assured us of all support in this regard”, Sehgal added.

It is worth mentioning here that ODOP, a unique initiative of CM Yogi, is being replicated by the Central Government also.