UK keen to further boost trade ties with India: Envoy

The UK today said it is "very keen" on developing further the trade relationship with India and does not see any "adverse impact" on Indian investments flowing to England post Brexit.
"Very positive, we are very keen on developing further trade relationships (with India)...There are huge opportunities looking to develop," British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith said here today.
He said discussions were held with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on "what the trade relations might look like".
"That's the direction where we will be going and building on what is already extraordinary strong relationships... The UK is the largest G20 investor in India and India is third largest investor in the UK.

"Indian companies in the UK which have grown more than 10 per cent last year have doubled. In case of one Indian company it has grown by over 700 per cent..Huge opportunities looking to develop," he said.
On the impact of Britain's exit from the European Union, Asquith said he does not see any adverse impact on Indian investments to the UK following Brexit.

"There are a lot of and plenty of opportunities to invest in the UK at the moment. It has always been in the interest from Indian investors many of whom are already invested in the UK in terms of expanding and we would welcome new investments and I do not see any adverse impact," British envoy said.

To a question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, British Ambassador showered praise on Modi for "creating conditions" to attract new investments into the country.
"He (Modi) is making progress and creating the conditions to attract investors. That is exactly you need to create a climate in terms of regulations, in terms of incentives that encourages investors to come and invest in the country that helps economies to grow," he added.
"If you close your economy to the outside, that has very negative consequences for the economy...Protectionism, closing your economy is not going to be good idea. Opening it up, making it attractive for people to invest and trading that is what he (Modi) seems to be doing."

He also spoke about the education opportunities and prospects in the UK.
Asquith said, "I had always been interested in India. I had not had a professional background there but had always visited as a tourist. It is a hugely important country and so when I was asked to do this job I decided to accept. We like to work with the next generation of young Indians to help them improve their economic, social and cultural opportunities."
"Our priority is to celebrate the great things about both countries, reconnect the young people of India with the UK and make people in the UK get to see what India is today. Education is at the heart of our mission to strengthen the UK's relations with India. And young Indians studying in the UK is one of the best ways to make that happen," he said.