"British diplomacy is engaged in a significant shift towards the power of Asia, with India as a centerpiece. A new office in Hyderabad was top priority. Partnership with Andhra Pradesh offers immense opportunity to expand trade and investment between the UK and this important part of India," Simon Fraser, permanent under-secretary and head of British Diplomatic Services, told reporters after inaugurating the office here.
He said the UK will open another office in Chandigarh, bringing the total British Deputy High Commissions in India to seven.
Besides Punjab and Haryana, the proposed Chandigarh office will also be responsible for Britain's relationship with Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.
James Bevan, British High Commissioner to India, said they are eyeing to double the bilateral trade, pegged at USD 13 billion in 2010, by 2015 and cooperate in a host of other areas, including research and innovation.
Besides the British High Commission in New Delhi, there are UK missions in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore. It also has two trade offices in Pune and Ahmadabad.