World news story

UK to celebrate partnership with Tamil Nadu

As partner country at Global Investors Meet in Chennai this week.

Global Investors Meet

Nicola Bolton, Managing Director (Global Trade Operations), UK Trade & Investment, London and Bharat Joshi, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, will lead a large British business delegation to the Global Investors Meet (GIM) in Chennai this week. Thirty UK companies and partners will showcase the best of British products, services and technologies at the UK Pavilion.

Nicola Bolton said:

The UK is delighted to be partner country for the first-ever GIM. The UK remains by far the largest G20 investor in India. Our trade with India continues to grow despite global economic fragility and rose to £15.8bn (INR 160,000 crores) in 2014. Last year we invested $1.89 bn (INR 12,500 crores) in India, while India’s foreign direct investment projects into the UK grew 65%,more than the rest of the EU combined.

British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, Bharat Joshi said:

I am really excited that we are partnering Tamil Nadu at its first GIM. The UK is a major part of the Tamil Nadu success story and the GIM gives us an opportunity to showcase this. At our UK Country Session at the GIM I will announce UK business successes and new UK partnerships and investments in Tamil Nadu. We will have on display the Optare Versa electric bus – they are the largest supplier in the UK. JLR will display its recently-launched Discovery Sport, and Triumph will display their cruiser bikes - Rocket III, Thunderbird LT and Tiger XRx.

On 9 September, the UK country session will include discussion on the Global Entrepreneurs Programme, the UK India Business Council, the role of IP in supporting global investment, and a new UK-India project on ease of doing business. It will include an interactive session on the entrepreneurial journey and an investor’s perspective on raising capital. UK companies and partners at the UK Pavilion include those from across sectors:

  • automotive
  • healthcare
  • education
  • oil & gas
  • skills
  • engineering/manufacturing
  • energy
  • project management
  • airlines
  • fashion
  • tourism
  • ICT

Further information:

  • on 9 September, the UK Country Session at the GIM will be from 1400 to 1600 hrs at Hall 6, Convention Centre at the Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakkam, Chennai. For the list of UK businesses at the UK pavilion please see our UK country session - programme (MS Word Document, 135 KB).

  • brochure for GIM (PDF, 1.59 MB, 8 pages)

  • the UK is the largest G20 investor in India, while India invests more in the UK than the rest of the EU combined. Over the period 2000-2015 the UK’s total FDI inflows into India was US$21.91 billion (INR 146,000 crores) accounting for 9.01% of all FDI inflow into India. In 2014-15 alone FDI from the UK into India stood at US$ 1.89 billion (INR 12,500 crores). In 2014, the UK’s total goods and services trade with India was £15.8 billion (INR 160,000 crores). In 2014-15 Indian investment into the UK helped create 7,730 new jobs in the UK.

  • media queries, please email Anita Mawdsley or call on mobile +91 9600199956.

Stuart Adam, Director,
Press and Communications
British High Commission,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
Tel: 44192100; Fax: 24192411

Mail to: Anita Mawdsley

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Published 6 September 2015