Britain 'committed to enhanced partnership with India'

Britain is committed to an "enhanced partnership" with India and will push for a successful outcome to the Doha trade talks, a top British minister has said.

"The coalition government is committed to an enhanced partnership with India," the Secretary of State for Business Vince Cable said.

Cable, who held talks with India's Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma here, said he was happy to open a positive dialogue on a range of important issues with New Delhi.

"I am delighted to welcome Sharma and to open a very positive dialogue on a range of important issues with the Indian government," he said.
   
"Bilateral trade is worth over 11 billion pounds a year, and India is already the second biggest foreign investor to the UK by number of projects. We must build on that," the Business Secretary underlined.
   
"Freeing up trade is vital. We will push for a successful outcome to the Doha trade talks and bringing the EU-India free trade talks to a swift and positive conclusion," Cable said in a statement issued after his meeting with Sharma.
   
According to the latest figures, the UK-India trade is worth 11.5 billion pounds. The UK is the top European investor in India and India is the top Asian investor in UK by number of projects.
   
In 2008-9, the UK attracted 108 project investments from India, generating 4,139 new jobs.
   
The Business Secretary also greeted a delegation of top Indian business leaders from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), who are accompanying Sharma on his visit.
   
The delegates included Hari S Bhartia, President of CII and Managing Director of Jubilant Organosys Limited, B Muthuraman, the Vice Chairman of Tata Steel and Vice President of CII, and Vikram Mehta, Chairman of Shell India.