Research and analysis

India: visit of Secretary of State for culture, media and sport

Published 27 October 2014

This research and analysis was withdrawn on 8 August 2016

This publication was archived on 5 August 2016. This article is no longer current. Please refer to Overseas Business Risk - India.

0.1 This publication was archived on 5 August 2016.

This article is no longer current. Please refer to Overseas Business Risk – India

0.2 Summary

Sajid Javid highlights the range and depth of the UK’s cultural, historical and people-to-people links with India; honours India’s contribution to WW1; promotes the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square; sets out UK policy on Internet Governance; and underlines that Britain is an open and welcoming country. His visit gets extensive national media coverage.

0.3 Detail

In Kolkata Mr Javid called on the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, highlighting UK expertise and investment in large infrastructure projects; recognised the contribution of the 1 million Indians who participated in WW1 at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery; launched the first Indian girls’ football teams with a Premier League and British Council programme to help underprivileged children; met representatives of top UK and Indian museums; and championed the UK as a film location at a shoot with a Bollywood director and actress.

In Delhi the Secretary of State met the Indian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shripad Yasso Naik, and discussed - museum development, digitisation and heritage conservation. The Ministers signed an MOU, extending UK India cultural cooperation for another five years.

Mr Javid met the Minister of Law and Communications, Ravi Shankar Prasad. The two Ministers gave keynote addresses at an international Cyber Conference. The Minister’s message - that India would benefit most from the internet continuing to be free and open - was well received and widely reported.

The Secretary of State visited the newly refurbished British Council building where he announced a new fund of £1.5m from the Arts Council England. He laid a wreath at the Gandhi Memorial and visited the house where Gandhi spent his last days and was assassinated – where he engaged with Indians on the planned Gandhi Statue in Parliament Square in London

At an evening “Tourism is GREAT” reception Mr Javid highlighted the growing numbers of Indians visiting all corners of the UK and broadcast the message that the UK is open for tourists, businessmen and students.

The visit, including the trade, education and visa aspects, received extensive coverage in national and regional media, which included interviews with four major national newspapers.

0.4 Disclaimer

The purpose of the FCO Country Update(s) for Business (”the Report”) prepared by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is to provide information and related comment to help recipients form their own judgments about making business decisions as to whether to invest or operate in a particular country. The Report’s contents were believed (at the time that the Report was prepared) to be reliable, but no representations or warranties, express or implied, are made or given by UKTI or its parent Departments (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)) as to the accuracy of the Report, its completeness or its suitability for any purpose. In particular, none of the Report’s contents should be construed as advice or solicitation to purchase or sell securities, commodities or any other form of financial instrument. No liability is accepted by UKTI, the FCO or BIS for any loss or damage (whether consequential or otherwise) which may arise out of or in connection with the Report