On 17 July 2021, a webinar and interaction session was organized by Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry - NRG Center, Ahmedabad on "post-Covid-19 pandemic effects in the UK". The webinar aimed to focus on providing information about the situation in the UK for those residing in the country after Covid-19 and the people who want to move to the UK. The guests included CB Patel, Publisher-Editor, Gujarat Samachar & Asian Voice - UK, Rohit Wadhwana, IFS, First Secretary (Economic), High Commission of India - London and Kanti Nagda, prominent British Indian.
The event started with a welcome speech by Digant Sompura, Chairman, NRG Center-Ahmedabad.
While addressing audience, CB Patel mentioned that there are about 2 million Indians living in Britain, out of which 800,000 are Gujarati origin and among them 52% have migrated from Africa. Despite the outcomes of pandemic, the Gujarati community throughout the UK showed up together with strength and affection towards each other.
Rohit Wadhwana thanked Natubhai Patel and the committee members and said that vaccination has been done on a large scale in Britain. There are a lot of opportunities for higher education in the UK. A dedicated counseling cell has also been started by the university.
In an interaction session with renowned business consultant Sunil Parekh, he said that significant initiatives have taken place between both the countries in past 70 years. In the month of May, an agreement on information and startups was signed at a virtual summit between the Prime Ministers of India and the UK, developing the bilateral relations.
British Indian Krishna Pujara said illegal immigrants living in Britain had also been vaccinated without any interrogation. Talking about the economic relations between both the countries, she added that even after Covid-19 and Brexit, there were no major issues in doing business in Britain. According to a report, in 2019, there were 840 Indian companies operating in the UK, which created 1,05,000 jobs. Additionally, during lockdown, 850 companies were registered which provided jobs to 1,010 people.
Kanti Nagda said that amid the Covid period, due to closure of voluntary organizations in Britain, the government took them under its wing and helped with business loans, visa fee waivers and food to the needy. The fruitful interaction session was organized with a mass participation. Digant Sompura concluded the webinar by expressing thanks to all.
