ARUNODAY TIMES ; Dehradun: British Deputy High Commissioner Alba Smiriglio, who is on a two-day visit to Uttarakhand, met Suryakant Dhasmana, AICC member and Vice President of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, at a hotel on Mussoorie Road. He was accompanied by his daughter Supriya Dhasmana, State Secretary of the Rajiv Gandhi Study Circle. The meeting focused on the state’s potential in tourism, education, renewable energy and investment.
Speaking after the meeting, Dhasmana said that Alba Smiriglio oversees the British High Commission’s engagement with Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. During her visit, she is interacting with political leaders, business representatives and industrial stakeholders to explore opportunities for British collaboration and investment in education, healthcare, industry and tourism.
During the discussion, Dhasmana highlighted Uttarakhand’s rich natural heritage, including its national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, glaciers, the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sharda, the Valley of Flowers, alpine meadows (bugyals), the Char Dham shrines, Hemkund Sahib, Nanakmatta and Piran Kaliyar. He emphasised that the state offers immense potential for religious, eco and adventure tourism.
He also pointed out that Uttarakhand’s rivers and water resources provide significant opportunities for the development of small and micro hydropower projects.
Supriya Dhasmana highlighted Uttarakhand’s reputation as a premier education destination, referring to internationally recognised institutions in Dehradun, Mussoorie and Nainital, including The Doon School, Welham Schools, Wynberg Allen School and St. George’s College. She suggested that the British Government and educational institutions in Uttarakhand could collaborate on higher education programmes and academic partnerships.
Expressing her appreciation for the suggestions and insights shared during the meeting, British Deputy High Commissioner Alba Smiriglio said she would prepare a detailed report for the British High Commissioner and the UK Government. She noted that there are strong possibilities for British participation and investment in Uttarakhand, particularly in the fields of tourism, renewable energy and higher education.
The meeting was also attended by Rajendra Singh Nagarkoti, Senior Officer and Political Adviser at the British High Commission’s Chandigarh office.
