THE Mayor of South Yorkshire held a Round Table discussion with the Indian High Commissioner on increased trade opportunities earlier this week, a statement said.
Mayor Dan Jarvis MP MBE, High Commissioner of India to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar and chair of the South Yorkshire India Advisory Board Richard Stubbs have participated in the talks.
The event focused on the opportunities for more South Yorkshire businesses to export to and establish a presence in India, and for more Indian businesses to trade with and invest in the region, the statement added.
Mayor Jarvis said: “This was a very positive and timely discussion for South Yorkshire, in light of the Free Trade Agreement currently being negotiated between the UK and Indian governments. India is such an important trade and investment partner for the UK and in South Yorkshire, there are tremendous opportunities for our businesses in key areas such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare and digital to increase their engagement with India.
“We are proud to be working so closely and collaborating with India’s business and government leaders, as part of enhancing trade relationships which are mutually beneficial. Establishing our South Yorkshire India Advisory Board is a key part of our commitment.”
Kevin McCole, managing director from UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and Rachel Clark, director of Trade & Investment at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) also spoke.
According to the statement, South Yorkshire MCA is planning a trade mission to India later in the year, with a reciprocal visit back to South Yorkshire by India’s business and civic leaders from the Maharashtra region.
The UK’s High Commissioner to India is expected to visit South Yorkshire in March when she will be hosted a number of key businesses and locations in the region, it further said.
In total, there are 447 businesses in South Yorkshire that currently export to India. In 2015, South Yorkshire exported £81m worth of goods to India – making it the region’s 12th largest trading partner. In 2017, South Yorkshire MCA introduced the strategy: ‘Make in India, Design and Develop with the South Yorkshire Region’.
For more details-https://scrinvest.com/how-we-help/working-with-india/
Damian Talbot
Nirmala Sitharaman speaks at the India-UK Investor Roundtable in London last Wednesday (9). On the panel were India’s department of economic affairs secretary Ajay Seth and Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak
Sitharaman with Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
Sitharaman with Jonathan Reynolds 
Sitharaman with Reynolds, Alastair King, India’s high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and other delegates
