Indian Consulate General Dr Aman Puri from Consulate General based in Birmingham visited Derby businesses earlier this week.
During the visit, Dr Puri and his colleagues were given a tour of a variety of businesses across Derby, including Rolls-Royce, Bombardier, and Pattonair, that all have their offices located in the city.
For the last few years, Derby City Council has been working with East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, Marketing Derby, University of Derby, Midlands Engine, and local businesses and developing initiatives that would assist Derby in making most of the enormous opportunities presented by the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India.
Derby’s future economic prosperity will depend on the ability of local businesses of all sizes to look beyond national and regional boundaries to secure jobs and investment.
“There is no shortage of ambition in Derby, amongst our SME’s and in our communities. Derby City Council will continue to do all we can to help local businesses fulfil those ambitions, to facilitate investment from India and to help local people benefit from the growth in the economy. Dr Puri’s visit today is definitely an important step in that process,” said Councillor Chris Poulter, Leader of the Council.
“The City Council is determined to support SME’s to develop new markets and the current international link of Derby city demonstrates the breadth of our ambition. India as the fastest growing economy in the world definitely is one of our target markets,” noted Councillor Baggy Shanker.
In January 2018 Derby City Council, in partnership with East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work with Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata to promote and foster trade and multilateral relations between Derby and Kolkata.
“I am impressed on Derby’s link with India and there is enormous potential in India for Derby’s SMEs. The Consulate General of India in Birmingham will continue helping Derby’s Business Community to explore the opportunities in India,” said Dr Aman Puri.
As a result of the memorandum, nine businesses based in and around Derby have been matched with appropriate businesses in Kolkata to identify investment and trading opportunities.
Reena Barai, chair of the PB Conference, on the podium with Sadik Al-Hasan, Harry McQuillan, Shilpa Shah and Nick Kaye on stage
Yasmin Karsan, Pritee Panchmatia and Fin McCaul
Baba Akomolafe, Rachna Chhatralia, Patricia Tigenoah-Ojo and Raj Matharu
Shailesh Solanki 
Reena Barai 
Janet Morrison
David Webb 
