Wooing Indian investments, British Prime Minister David Cameron has said the UK is one of the easiest places to do business and raise capital.
"Britain is one of the most open economies in the world, one of the easiest places to come and invest, to come and do business, to come and own a business, to come and raise capital and we want to make it even more open, even more welcoming," Cameron told a forum of business leaders of the UK and India here yesterday.
Speaking at the first meeting of the India-UK CEO Forum at Number 10, Downing Street he said, "This is for me to listen to what the CEOs are saying about what needs to change in Britain to make us more attractive and what needs to change in India to increase the flows of investment both ways."
He added that the India-Britain relationship is strong, "but could be much, much stronger". The British Prime Minister accompanied by a large business delegation had visited India in July last year.
The UK economy contracted by 0.5% in the last three months of 2010, raising concerns about the European nation's recovery.
Among the big-ticket Indian investment in the UK, Tata group acquired steelmaker Corus for over $12 billion in 2007 and British iconic car brands Jaguar Land Rover for about $2.3 billion in 2008. More recently, Sahara group took over iconic Grosvenor House hotel for over $712 million.
Addressing the forum, Tata group Chairman Ratan Tata said that the UK-India trade and investment relationship has significant unrealised potential.
"The UK has a special place in the hearts and minds of Indians and the Indian industry. However, I feel our trade and investment relationship has significant unrealised potential given the synergies possible between the two countries -- such as what we could achieve by leveraging the technology and manufacturing capabilities in the UK, to serve the global market," he said.
