The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Confederation of Indian Industries through their joint platform, the Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC), organised a two-day high profile conference in July to show case the investment potential northern Indian states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi. The event was attended by high powered officers from all the states along with leading investors and professionals around the world. Mr Amit Kant Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Mr Prem Narain, Secretary at the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs spoke at the conference.

Overseas presence included senior representatives from South Africa, Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, the USA, Bangladesh and the UK. Mr Uday Dholakia, Chairman of the Indo British Trade Council, a long standing partner of the OIFC, spoke on further enhancing bilateral trade and investment based on legacy-based support. “The new Government in India” said Mr Dholakia, “has fuelled a degree of optimism in the UK for further enhance bilateral trade and investment with India.” The Modi bounce lay in the architecture of the Vibrant Gujarat showcasing to the world the potential of Gujarat. The northern states coming together to show case their potential has to be saluted and encouraged. The commitment of the UK government to underpin British exports and investment with India to the tune of £1 Billion announced by the Chancellor George Osborne during his recent visit to Delhi highlights this special relationship. According to Mr Dholakia, “the challenge for the Modi administration is to create an amicable FDI environment and further enhance sound corporate governance. The UK’s challenge remains how to practically strengthen British companies with legacy-based trade support and most importantly to galvanize the considerable reach of the British Asian communities”.

IBTC, based out of LABA’s International Trade Hub in Leicester, is long standing partner of OIFC and CII and has extended support to all the northern states in India to promote bilateral trade, investment, research and tourism links.