Indian Commerce Minister visits UK for trade talks
The Indian Commerce Minister and Prime Minister David Cameron met at Downing Street during a visit for bilateral trade and business talks.
India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma, met Prime Minister David Cameron at Number 10 this week while visiting for talks with Business Secretary Vince Cable and Universities and Science Minister David Willetts.
The bilateral talks covered trade, investment, education, science and research.
Secretary of State Vince Cable highlighted the coalition Government’s commitment to an “enhanced partnership” with India and welcomed “a very positive dialogue” on a range of important issues with the Indian government.
Mr Cable said:
Bilateral trade is worth over £11 billion a year, and India is already the second biggest foreign investor to the UK by number of projects. We must build on that. Freeing up trade is vital. We will push for a successful outcome to the Doha trade talks and bringing the EU-India free trade talks to a swift and positive conclusion.
The Business Secretary also greeted a delegation of top Indian business leaders from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) who are accompanying Mr Sharma on his visit.
The UK is the top European investor in India and there are more than 700 Indian companies with investments in the UK. About two thirds are in the ICT and software sector.