British Minister of State for Trade and Investment Francis Maude today arrived in India on a four-day visit to discuss ways to deepen commercial ties between the two countries.
"Lord Maude will focus on deepening commercial ties between the countries and will highlight how the UK's unique offer to India compliments Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aspirations for India," British High Commission said in a statement.
The minister would meet Indian leaders, government officials and business people during the visit to strengthen economic relations between India and the UK.
"Our government is committed to an enhanced partnership with India," the statement said quoting the British Minister.
In the national capital, he will attend the India-UK Business Convention where British and Indian CEOs would gather.
He would hold discussions with top Indian investors in the UK like Wipro, GENPACT, TCS, Tech-Mahindra to boost trade and investment between the countries.
The Minister will also unveil a limited edition portrait of British Queen and strike a gold coin in the Royal Mint factory outside Delhi to highlight high-tech, high-value collaborative manufacturing between the UK and India, it said.
In Mumbai, he will meet top industrialists including Cyrus Mistry and Indiabulls' Sameer Gehlaut, it said adding he will also visit Cipla's laboratory facility and deliver a lecture at IIT Bombay.
The statement further said that the Minister today joined Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in laying the foundation stone of a new GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) factory at Vemgal, near Bengalaru.
GSK is investing 100 million British pound in this new pharmaceutical plant, it added.
The bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 14.33 billion in 2014-15. India has received USD 22.32 billion FDI from the UK during April 2000 and June 2015.
