AN EXPERT in conflict management has visited India as part of plans to develop cities in the country and help get people out of poverty.

Former army officer Felix Spender, who lives near Warminster, met with politicians, university representatives and other business owners at the Innovation India conference in Mumbai.

The event, run by the British Chamber of Commerce in Denmark (BCCD), looked at the issue of ‘Smart Cities’, which involves creating cities with better facilities that are able to provide their own water and power.

Mr Spender, 57, who has worked on peace keeping missions with NATO in Kosovo and Iraq and is now resolving conflict in businesses and organisations, said: “If I can play a small part in helping to improve people’s lives through my involvement with smart cities, then that would be fantastic.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to build 100 smart cities – with the first set to start in the state of Andhra Pradesh, on the south eastern coast of the country.

It includes plans for Amaravati, the new state capital being built from scratch.

Mr Spender was joined at the event by a delegation from Denmark and the Chief Minister of the state of Andhra Pradesh, Naru Chandrababu Naidu.

The father-of-two, who works for conflict management group North Light Solutions, was delighted to be selected for the trip.

He said: “I was surprised and delighted to be invited to such a momentous occasion. It is an amazing opportunity to play a role in creating a new city.

“India is a fascinating, colourful place with huge ambition but there is still a large gap between rich and poor. Smart cities will hopefully help to bridge this.

“These are major projects and there will inevitably be disputes, be it internally or from stake-holders. North Light’s role would be to assist the project teams to deal with conflict quickly and fairly, enabling work to continue.

“Constructive conflict management increases the probability of a project’s success and reduces cost. It’s about putting people at the centre of the solution to create a win-win for all involved.”