Gordon Brown to visit India on Jan 17

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown will begin a three-day visit to India from January 17. Brown's visit to India assumes significance considering that this is his first ever visit to India.

It is also his first diplomatic trip this year to a foreign country ahead of the May elections in the United Kingdom.

Significantly, Alistair Darling, UK's trade and industry secretary, will also lead a 120-member high level business delegation to India from January 15-17. This is the largest ever business delegation from the UK to visit India in recent times.

Brown's agenda in India will focus on promoting both political and economic ties between the two countries. The chancellor is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other top political leaders.

UK's high level business delegation will consist of the Confederation of British Industry and companies from the pharma, financial services, IT and telecom sectors, according to Ratika Jain, head of the CII's UK operations.