Shri Anand Sharma, Commerce and Industry Minister who is heading a high powered CII delegation to UK, called on British PM David Cameron on 28th June at 10 Downing Street. This was the first high level visit to UK by an Indian minister after formation of the new government. In his interaction, PM Cameron confirmed the acceptance of invitation extended by Dr Manmohan Singh to visit India in July 2010. CIM expressed satisfaction at the recent pronouncement by UK to have an “enhanced engagement” with India. Prime Minister Cameron expressed his keenness to have more Indian graduates come to the UK. He also expressed great interest at the state of play in the Doha Round.
The CIM also had a substantive bilateral meeting with his counterpart Business Secretary Vincent Cable and Mr. David Willets, Minister for Universities & Science. Mr Cable reiterated the commitment of the new government for a stronger partnership and emphasized collaboration in high technology, higher education, scientific research, renewable energy, green technology development and manufacturing, infrastructure and agro processing. Mr. Cable added that there should be recognition of how important India is and of its success so far and this should be reflected in the two-way trade and investment relationship.
During a separate half-hour meeting which CIM had with the Foreign Secretary William Hague, the latter emphasised his Government's strong desire to give "a push to ties with India". Referring to PM Cameron's forthcoming visit to India, Mr. Hague said that the Prime Minister was enthusiastically looking forward to the visit and would be accompanied by a large business delegation and Ministers from the economic ministries. Mr. Hague said that his party had been clear about India being a priority for the UK since the visit of Mr. Cameron to India in 2006 and that UK and India were allies in the broader context including on issues like a permanent seat for India in an expanded UNSC. Mr Sharma expressed his concern over the issue of the proposed cap on non-EU migration into the UK and emphasised the need for greater movement of people to promote the growth of the services sector. Mr. Hague said that they were trying to ensure that operations of Indian companies remain unaffected and UK remains keenly interested in flow of highly qualified professionals from India to the UK.
Shri Sharma also spoke to the business community at a seminar organized by the CII at the London School of Economics on the “India’s Growth Imperatives
Mr. Anand Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry with Mr. David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Mr. Anand Sharma, Hon'ble Minister of Commerce & Industry with Mr. William
Hague, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom. |
