India’s ranking in Ease of Doing Business index 2015 slipped by two notches to 142 from 140 in 2014 out of 189 countries covered

United Kingdom has offered to assist Maharashtra state to improve India’s ranking in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index. UK-India Business Council and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) sign pact to this effect during British Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Livingston’s visit to Gujarat and Mumbai from 9-12 January.

Under the pact, Britain will offer support and expertise to MIDC as Mumbai works to contribute to an improvement in India’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, British Deputy High Commission said in statement.

India’s ranking in Ease of Doing Business index 2015 slipped by two notches to 142 from 140 in 2014 out of 189 countries covered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants India to break into top 50 in three years.

Lord Livingston is leading a contingent of over 60 British companies and 100 delegates to Vibrant Gujarat. This is one of the largest delegations of any country at Vibrant Gujarat2015, with sectors including advanced engineering, manufacturing, retail, financial services, infrastructure, design and education.

In Mumbai, Lord Livingston will inaugurate the new UK India Business Centre at Bandra Kurla Complex with the Maharashtra Minister for Industries, Subhash Desai.

Lord Livingston will announce the opening of a power plant built by British company OPG Power Ventures, with OPG planning investing up to £1.5bn more in Gujarat’s energy infrastructure, the largest single British direct investment in Gujarat’s power sector.
The story was published in Business Standard on 9th Jan 2015.