'UK to double trade with India by 2015'

The British minister terms the signing of an agreement between BG Group and GSPC as one of the largest UK-India trade deals

Terming the signing of an agreement between the BG Group and the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (GSPC) for the long-term sale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as one of the largest UK-India trade deals, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Hugo Swire welcomed the deal.

"This deal is great news for the companies, for Gujarat, for the UK, and for India.  Following the Prime Minister's highly successful visit last month this is further evidence that the UK and India are making real progress in building a stronger, wider and deeper partnership," said Swire, who was also present during the agreement signing at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. "We are well on course to double trade with India by 2015 and I hope this is further encouragement to UK companies to trade, invest and build their presence in India," he added.

Swire is the first British minister to visit Gujarat since November 2000. The visit comes five months after the British government’s decision in October 2012 to re-engage with the senior political leadership of Gujarat.

The British minister also met the chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi and discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including human rights.