PM in India: boosting business and community ties
David Cameron returns to India on his second visit this year, reflecting his personal determination to strengthen the UK-India relationship.
Accompanied by a small business delegation, the Prime Minister will use the visit to further increase the opportunities on offer to help British businesses succeed abroad.
Read David Cameron’s blog on his commitment to strengthening the UK-India relationship
The Prime Minister has announced plans to open a new British business centre in Mumbai, adding to the centres in Delhi and Bangalore. These centres provide practical support for British SMEs wanting to start doing business in India and together they reach 75 per cent of the demand from UK SMEs.
David Cameron speaking at the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta.
Building on the success of the centres in India, the government is set to open a further 6 centres in the coming year with the government funding design, kit-out, and first year rent as it seeks to boost the number of SMEs exporting.
Bangalore-Mumbai Economic Corridor
The Prime Minister will also put British business in prime position to win lucrative and long term contracts as the UK and India take the next step in the joint 1,000 km Bangalore-Mumbai Economic Corridor, tendering for the feasibility study and establishing a Joint Steering Group for the project. This project will offer UK firms the opportunity to play a role in India’s ambitious $1 trillion infrastructure investment plans.
Links between British and Indian communities
The Prime Minister will also travel to the Bengali heartland of Kolkata to establish wider links between the British and Indian communities and to explore how we can do more to draw on the huge Indian diaspora in the UK. He has appointed Priti Patel MP to a new role as UK Indian Diaspora Champion for the UK to strengthen links between the government and the diaspora, promote the UK-India relationship and advance our objectives, particularly on trade and investment and education.
The Prime Minister said:
I’ve made a personal commitment to strengthening UK-India relations because I believe we can be one of the great partnerships of the 21st century. And I firmly believe that British Indians – who already bring so much to our country – can play a vital role forging this strong relationship.
To date, I don’t think we’ve made the most of all they have to offer so I’ve appointed Priti Patel as our diaspora champion.
This new role will increase links between the government and the British Indian community, enabling us to draw on their experiences and expertise, and strengthening the bond between our 2 countries.
Commenting on her new role, Priti Patel MP said:
The Prime Minister has made it his personal mission to strengthen the bond between the UK and India and I am delighted to support him on forging a closer relationship between our 2 countries. We are already bound together by many common bonds - economic, social and cultural. British Asians in the UK contribute hugely to our country and enrich our communities, which is why it is a privilege to have been appointed to a role which will enhance the special relationship between our 2 countries’.
Last updated 15 November 2013 + show all updates
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Added Urdu Translation
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First published.