“This is my fourth visit to India since I assumed charge as cabinet minister. We have about 1,000 Indian companies in UK and several British investors in India. Chennai is a big knowledge centre and successful, besides biggest centre in the automobile sector, so we want to develop it,” Dr Vince Cable, UK minister for business, innovation and skills said while inaugurating the Great British Festival-2013 in the city on Wednesday.
Reiterating UK’s stance on strengthening ties with India, especially TN, the minister said that British Airways plans to operate flights from Chennai to UK on a daily basis. “Medium sized companies are investing in India, I met a shoe company, the first single brand retailer from abroad-a British shoe company which would start its operation in India,” he said.
Emphasising the need to improve skills sector in India, Dr Cable noted that the business delegation from UK had 30 people from different trades with expertise in skill development. “The welding institute here, which I would visit this afternoon represents British universities and some other top universities are building campuses in India,” he added.
Bharat Joshi, British deputy high commissioner said that 27 top companies, including a few educational institutions had set up their stalls at Great British Festival.
