Lord Jonathan Marland, chairman of the UK-based Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), said the proposed UK visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April marks a significant recognition by India that the Commonwealth has got value.
"There has been a complete sea change of attitude towards the Commonwealth, which is entirely to India's credit and to the Commonwealth's benefit. This has given the Commonwealth the boost it needs," he said during an interview on plans for CHOGM in London.
"India's engagement is absolutely brilliant... there is a recognition that the Commonwealth offers a great opportunity for India and within that opportunity lies an opportunity for the rest of the Commonwealth," he said.
Marland also dismissed tags such as "Empire 2.0" thrown up by some UK media reports that have sought to connect Brexit-hit Britains renewed engagement with the Commonwealth as a throwback to the Raj.
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"There comes a tipping point where people realise that this is a place of opportunity, rather than letting heritage get in the way of progress. I think we are at that point and I think a lot of that is down to India," he said.
According to CWEIC data, the Commonwealth's combined population is an estimated 2.4 billion, with its combined GDP predicted to reach USD 14 trillion by 2020. Intra-Commonwealth trade was estimated to be USD 525 billion in 2015, which is projected to surpass USD 1 trillion by 2020.
Lord Marland has written to British Prime Minister Theresa May to make strengthening the Commonwealth a priority.
"The UK has got a phenomenal opportunity with the Commonwealth. It has not prioritised it as a trading partner... I am not convinced yet the UK has worked out its role with it because it is very focused on Brexit negotiations and I don't think it has looked too far beyond that," he said.
"As trade envoy for the former British Prime Minister (David Cameron), it was clear to me that this was a jewel a Koh-i-Noor diamond that had been put away in a cupboard somewhere and now at last it was being brought out, said Marland.
"It is to the incredible credit of the Queen (Head of the Commonwealth) and the royal family that it still exists, because without them it wouldn't. People have danced around the edges of it for too long," he added.
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