Indian Ministers Suresh Prabhu and Kiren Rijiju visiting the UK from 11-14 January have confirmed that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the UK this April. The time estimated of his visit will be around the week of 16 April, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London and Windsor. He will also be signing two MoUs on illegal immigration and a shared record for combatting international crimes.
NaMo had visited the UK last in 2015 November, after being invited by then Prime Minister David Cameron, and had addressed a gallery of more than 40,000 people at the Wembley Stadium.
In November 2017, Prince Charles had visited India and discussed a wide range of issues with the Indian Prime Minister, including that of CHOGM in April 2018, and had invited him to attend. After NaMo's visit to the UK last time, our Prime Minister Theresa May visited India in 2016 and discussed many issues including visas and illegal immigrants. It is imminent that such matters will be discussed during her Indian counterpart's visit to the UK. As UK leaves EU, India and UK are looking forward to forge a new relationship with each other in matters of trade and commerce.
The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 52 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace. In April 2018 (starting from 16th), the UK will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) when leaders from all the member countries are expected to gather in London and Windsor. They will come together to reaffirm our common values, address the shared global challenges we face and agree how to work to create a better future for all our citizens, particularly young people.
12th JETCO & Minister Suresh Prabhu's visit
Minister Suresh Prabhu's meetings on this trip included bilateral and trade investments talks leading up to CHOGM in April, meet up of group of companies for the Access India programme to encourage SMEs to invest in India. Besides that he has had roundtables with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Confederation of British Industries (CBI), UK India Business Council (UKIBC) at the High Commission of India. He also participated in the 12th annual Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) on Thursday 11 January.
International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, met with Minister Prabhu, to discuss greater cooperation between the two countries and identify barriers to trade and investment that must be addressed in order to boost future prosperity. Ministers were joined by a delegation of senior UK and Indian officials for the 12th meeting of the UK-India JETCO, which will build on progress made by the UK-India trade working group that was established in 2016.
Dr Fox announced that the national export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF), has more than doubled its financial support to enable UK businesses to trade with India. It means £4.5 billion will now be available for UK companies exporting to India as well as Indian buyers of UK goods and services.
India and the UK already enjoy a strong trading relationship, worth £15.7 billion in 2016, with UK exports to India amounting to £5.8 billion. Indian foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UK was worth £1.5bn in 2016, while UK investment into India rose to £13.2 billion in 2016.
The minister also took part in a Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment council meeting organised by FICCI at the Lalit hotel, moderated by Manoj Ladwa, followed by a talk at the London School of Economics. On Saturday he attended a diaspora meet organised by FICCI at the high commission of India.
An industry roundtable co-organised on 11 January in London by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Confederation of British Industry (CBI), UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and the High Commission of India, bringing together over 25 UK business leaders for a high-level discussion with Minister Suresh Prabhu, His Excellency Y K Sinha, High Commissioner of India to the UK and several officials from the UK Government and British High Commission also joined the discussions.
Key industry leaders from across sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services, Food & Drink and Tourism were represented by companies likeJCB, Pernod Richard, Reckitt Benckiser, GSK, BAE Systems, Diageo, G4S, RELX, Renishaw, Standard Chartered, TVS, TWI, Vodafone and Cox and Kings.
On Friday, 12th, Prabhu told a press conference that his meetings with the UK counterparts have been about the bilateral trade in areas of start ups, smart cities, investment in India and innovation in energy. There will be 20,000 new companies in India and how UK’s innovation could accelerate that. He also spoke about possibilities to use new tech innovation, tidal, solar and wind energy and exporting those innovations to India.
He spoke about Commonwealth trade issues and multicultural trading system. When asked if Brexit would benefit India’s relationship with UK, he assured he is in conversation with both UK and EU and are hoping a to foster a better relationship with both the blocs. He is also hoping that the free trade will increase possibilities of a further robust and healthy economic tie.
Speaking at the London School of Economics Prabhu addressed an auditorium full of students and professors on importance of the World Trade Organisation and its influence on sustainable growth and made comments on climate change issues, that could be solved through renewable trades.
Minister Kiren Rijiju's visit
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju initiated two MoUs have been initiated with his UK counterpart- one on illegal immigration and another on criminal record register to combat international crimes. These MoUs will be signed when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the UK in April 2018. This is the first time India has officially announced Mr Modi’s participation in CHOGM in UK. He also met the new Chairman of Conservative party- Brandon Lewis.
Rijiju also discussed about cyber crimes, small fractions of Khalistani agitations in the UK, and also suggested a model for UK to see and learn how India has such less radicalisation cases. He discussed cases of illegal Indian immigrants, 14 pending cases of extradition to India, the plight of the Indian women abandoned by their husbands settled in the UK and issues of students’ visa.
Speaking about the recent Jagtar Singh Johal arrest in Punjab, India he said that there were evidences found against Johal, who was in the centre of many illegal activities- hence he was arrested. However he has confirmed that the allegation of torture against police by Johal is not true and they have had three panels of independent medical examinations to confirm that.
The matter of the extradition of tycoon Vijay Mallya was also a part of his discussion.
Diaspora meet
A get together with the Indian diaspora was organised by FICCI and the High Commission of India at the India house in London, was joined by the two Indian ministers.
Minister Rijiju at his address said, “today the distance has reduced between countries because of internet. In the global platform India did not got its due recognition, but things have changed in the past few years. Partly because of the role diaspora plays and partly because of India’s own role. The flow of people between countries should be very smooth and legal. We have taken concerns of the diaspora on board and done whatever we can do. Online visa has been extended to 160 countries and a few more I will sign when I go back. As for security arrangements we would like to see in India needs to be in integration with globally. Like criminal records etc. All my meetings with various ministers have been fruitful. You diaspora are our pride and today briefly meeting you powerful lot has been a great privilege.”
Minister Prabhu went to the Ambedkar house in North West London on Saturday morning to pay his homage. Prabhu said, “I strongly believe in the strength of diaspora and the role of the diaspora. All of you continue to have great interest in the country of your ancestor. Some of you must left India quite a few years ago, but read about India everyday. What strikes us two things: you always feel bad about the problems in India at the same time you are also struck by the potential of India. India and Indians’ potentials everywhere are legendary. That’s why when Narendra Modi was chosen as the Prime Minister he wanted to solve issues and unleash India’s potential. 2022 we will celebrate our 75th Independence Day and we hope to solve most of India’s problems by then.”
