'Indian private sector expertise can contribute largely to global health'

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: the UK and India, along with other G20 countries. The G20 Leaders meeting in Washington last weekend outlined an action plan with four key steps: the reform of financial supervision in line with key principles such as transparency and integrity; globally coordinated action on economic stimulation through fiscal and monetary measures; a 12-month moratorium on protectionist trade measures; a commitment to consider in detail the reform of international institutions such as the IMF at a follow-up summit.

Which are the other countries in the Indian subcontinent that DFID is actively engaging with and broadly in which sectors?

Two-thirds of the world’s poorest people live in Asia and 800 million people live on less than a dollar a day. We work across the sub-continent to make sure that more poor people have access to basic services, such as health and education.

We work in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan with a small programme in Sri Lanka. The exact nature of our engagement in each country depends largely on the Governments priorities. For example, in Bangladesh there is significant potential for growth but around 40% of the population remains poor. Our programmes in Bangladesh aim to address the major obstacles to growth in the country - weak governance, inadequate infrastructure, and difficult investment processes. Furthermore we need to find ways to protect people from the worsening impacts of climate change.

What will the priority areas to be touched upon, highlight points of this visit of yours and who are the key people you plan to meet in India during this visit?

During my visit to India I have met senior ministers and officials in New Delhi to consider how India is addressing development challenges. I met new partners who are leading India’s contribution to global public goods such as climate change and the supply of low cost AIDS drugs. I have travelled to Bihar to launch a new partnership with the Government of Bihar, starting with a major governance programme. In Bihar I also had the chance to meet rural villagers and communities whose stories of poverty and destitution are a real indication of the serious development challenges remaining in India.

Where does India stand in the future plans of Department for International Development, UK and in which way do you see India participating and getting more involved with the department?