What was once the world's most powerful country, Britain is going through a difficult and momentous period at present. Dark clouds of Brexit loom over the country as the Theresa May led government grapples to restore sanity. Amid the internal tiffs and disappointments, the country's foreign relations especially its association with India has come under scrutiny.
In an attempt to shed some light on the present state of things between India and Britain, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar held a talk in Ahmedabad Management Association, Ahmedabad, where four well-known persons took stage and spoke their minds.
'Exchange of Ideas: Indo-British Partnership' saw Dr Mohan Kaul, President of the Indian Professional Forum, Lord Navneet Dholakia, Deputy Leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party of the Great Britain, and Geoff Wain, Deputy British High Commissioner, Ahmedabad speak on the past, present and future of India-Britain relationship. The overall sentiment was one of hope and determination as the leaders stood firm on a positive and flourishing collaboration.
First to take stage, Geoff Wain began by stating that the current stage of partnership between Gujarat and the UK opened in 2015. He said there were a total of 10 British offices and staff in India- more than in any other country. Wain said that bilateral relation is an important aspect for not just India, or the UK, but for both the countries. The key areas to collaborate according to him was in “Mutual Security & intelligence, and Trade Agreement”. The deputy High Commissioner also stressed on the importance of diverting attention to the younger generation- the students. He talked about the various initiatives undertaken by the High Commissioner to bring the youth to the forefront.
“We need to look forward; Ask what's next? Interact with children,” Wain said. Elaborating on how strong the relation has gotten after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office, he stated a few “facts” about the extent of the relation between India and the United Kingdom. “I would like to point out a few facts to show how invested both the countries are in each other. 1, UK is a big T20 investor. It has put in £21 million in just the past year. 2, India is the 4th largest investor in the UK. It invests more money in the country than all European countries combined. 3, Both the countries conduct an annual trade worth £18 billion. There is a 16 per cent increase in the trade relationship. 4, The UK dispenses 600,000 visas for Indians each year. Indians get around 17 per cent of the employment visa. 5, The visa for Indian students had seen a rise last year. The country is more welcoming of students from abroad, especially India.”
Wain said that both the nations have complemented each other on several international platforms. The need, he said is to “foster relationship between the new generations from both the countries.”
Space For Improvement: Aim For Economic Advancement
Lord Dholakia spoke on the beginning of the relationship between India and the UK. He said the countries have history. “The oldest democracy in the world meets the largest democracy.” Speaking on the impact colonisation had left on the country, and how, despite all the disadvantages, the Indian diaspora today is the largest in the world, Lord Dholakia elaborated on the migration of Indians. He also spoke on the contribution of the Indian community in the UK. “There are over 200 temples in the UK. Over 10,000 Indian restaurants,” he said.
In all the praises of the collaboration of the two countries, Lord Dholakia also pointed out the issues or where the relationship is lacking. “We can make more economic advancement,” he said. Despite the already advanced partnership, both countries have a long way to go and ways to increase trade or financial advancement can be sought. He said the younger generation should be more involved and considered. “The third issue, is something we all have been constantly hearing for the last two years. Brexit.” The stand of the UK government on the issue has definitely varied over time, he said.
What had started off as a surefooted hard Brexit, has now wilted towards something more lenient. Lord Dholakia said he is sure the UK government will opt for a soft Brexit. He urged the audience to forget the pre-independence past when they visit the UK and instead, focus on the contribution made by the Indian community to the country. “Don't look back. Contribute. Go forward,” the Lord said.
It's a Win-Win situation
Guest of the hour, Dr Mohan Kaul finally took the mic and described the current Indo-British relations as a “forward-looking.” He said the kinship has gone through major changes in the last 10 years. “Back in 2015, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Wembley Stadium, UK saw the biggest crowd of the Indian diaspora gathered to hear him speak. David Cameron, who was then Prime Minister, said to Modi, 'You know the maximum I ever got in a political gathering is 700. I better stick to you!' Efforts to boost bilateral relations began that night,” Dr Kaul said. Dr Kaul said there are several programmes between both the countries, that focus on fields like science, skills, etc. Mirroring Geoff Wain and Lord Dholakiya's views, he too stated that the “future is basically going to be the younger generation.”
“Off the 1.5 million British passport holders, majority are professionals. “Indian origin people,” Dr Kaul said, “are now present in every sector, most of them holding senior positions. Government data has disclosed that the median income of the Indian community in the UK is highest than any other community. Of the second generation Indian-origin migrants, 30 per cent have become professionals.” He said that a significant change in Indo-UK relations is expected to come, but in a good way. “Britain is keen on boosting relations with India,” he affirmed.
Dr Mohan Kaul is the president of the Indian Professionals Forum, a leading think tank based in the UK set up to increase the participation of Indian Diaspora in national policy development and economy and increase UK India partnership particularly as a result of Brexit. He chairs the Global Investment Advisory and Alglotech Ltd, and was also founder of commonwealth Investment Corporation. Earlier, Dr Kaul was involved in setting up commonwealth Business Forum at CHOGM since 1997 and was also the founding Director General and latter chairman of commonwealth Business Council. He was youngest Dean of prestigious institute, IIM Ahmedabad before being selected for the UN and the Commonwealth assignments.
In the past 30 years, Dr Kaul has built an enviable rapport with Presidents and Heads of Government across continents. He has organised over 50 high level forums involving Heads of Governments, Ministers, senior officials, chairpersons and Chief Executives. Dr Kaul has been a member of the Presidential Advisory Councils of Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia and similar councils in different countries, and continues to work closely with them. He has also lead several business delegations to India particularly to Gujarat at Vibrant Gujarat, and other countries in Africa and Asia.
“Meanwhile, India is set to surpass different economies. By 2030, it could be the third biggest economy. So, bilateral relations are set to be win-win,” he said. On suggestions for how the bond can be both, bettered and benefited from, he said, “UK is, and will continue to be on the forefront of innovation. In that context, we can talk to businesses in India and UK can help young entrepreneurs create. A UK India Innovation Fund worth $66 million has been set up.” So while India offers UK companies an opportunity to make use of its open FDI regime in the IT sector, the UK will help innovative companies coming out of India that are looking to expand, and enable creation of 2,500 jobs.
“UK will also remain in the forefront of services. Another important sector for both the countries to collaborate is Health Care. There can be a tremendous market for healthcare centres in the future,” Dr Kaul said. Winding up, he said there is “tremendous hope and scope predominantly in technology and building businesses on a grass roots level.”
Padma Shri Vishnu Pandya summarised the opinions by saying, “India, particularly Gujarat, has woken up to a new era of relationships with the UK.”
The panel later opened for questions and a neurosurgeon who was attending the talk asked why Indian doctors find it more difficult than their Sri Lankan and Pakistani peers to enter into the medical system in the UK? He said he knows around 50 doctors who have had to take a test in the UK, while doctors from Pakistan or Sri Lanka do not have to appear for a test. Lord Dholakia answered, “At the end of the day, I think one of the crucial things, we have a very strong organisation called Overseas Doctors Association in United Kingdom and in the next two weeks the Indian Doctors Association are having a meeting at the Indian High Commission called by the Indian High Commissioner. This is the type of issue that is ought to be taken at that particular stage. I don't see any difficulty in being able to understand why it has some countries been exempted and others are not. Unless you compare like with like you are not getting any where.”
He added, “If there is a need to ask questions in the Parliament, get your friends to get in touch with me and I tell you, I will be on my feet asking the Minister of Health why there is such a differentiation and what can we do to remove it.”
Another question was asked by Gujarat Samachar News Editor Achyut Sanghvi, who asked, “How come the UK has not added India in the new group of 11 countries that received a student visa relaxation. Also, UK government had said that India is not ready to take back its illegal migrants. Is this is a case of pressurising India?” Geoff Wain responded by saying, “One of those problems is because we have so many people in the UK of Indian-origin is that sadly we have a large number of illegal Indian nationals in the UK. I think that can be taken into account when we are relaxing any kind of visa or immigration scheme. There is no reason why in the future India can't be included in those 11 or the expanded 11. But then, going back to my original statistics, visas for students are up 27 per cent year on year. So it is a fact that I don't see this as a disincentive for Indian nationals to be able to go and study in the UK.”
He further said, “I think your second question was around Indian nationals who abscond to the UK. That's clearly an issue that is subject to the judicial process. If by some chance an Indian national manages to get out of India and get out of the UK, as you would expect, we have a formal legal process to go through. About the cases that are currently in the newspapers, I am not going to comment on the individuals, but I would say that once that due legal process is followed and it is found that person should be returned to India then we will abide by that decision.”
Another question was, the US is currently in a diplomatic war with other countries. The European Union is directly conflicting with America. What is the UK's stand? Dr Kaul responded by saying, “UK government or people are very much for free trade and would be all for having free trade deals with almost all the countries. But UK wants to be the spokesperson for free trade and lead.” Lord Dholakia added, “I think all that remains is determining trade policies. If you remember, Donald Trump recently announced a trade war with China on tariffs, etc, saying that America was sold short in many of the deals and other things. The Prime Minister of UK Theresa May has made it very clear that we stand by EU and other countries and said this is fundamentally wrong and will damage trade all over the world. She will not subscribe to the point of view that is expressed by President Trump and I don't subscribe to many his views in any case.”
