The United Kingdom and India have a long, shared history, and the ties that bind our two great nations, be they diplomatic, economic or cultural, go back through the generations. On Indian Independence Day, we should reflect on the achievements of India and the Indian diaspora here in the UK, and look forward to the relationship between our nations strengthening further still.
It is a day to recognise the many important contributions made by the diaspora community here in the UK through development and commerce, or the vast investments made by non-resident Indians in Indian communities through the building of homes, schools, and medical facilities for villages and towns. The Indian diaspora community embodies the link between our two countries, with the connections and knowledge that bring us together.
The Indian diaspora in the UK is one of the largest ethnic minority communities in the country, with the 2011 census recording approximately 1.5 million people of Indian origin, making up almost 2 per cent of the population yet contributing 6 per cent to the country’s GDP. Although uncertainties remain about the UK’s future role on the world stage, one thing that is clear is that the diaspora community’s ability to bridge any divide that exists between our great nations will continue to deepen and develop UK-India relations in the future.
I want to wish Indians everywhere a very happy Independence Day.
Preet Kaur Gill, the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston and Shadow International Development Secretary