UK minister Gregory Barker to increase UK-India business relations
At the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) Annual Reception in London, Barker said that UK Prime Minister David Cameron has given him additional responsibility for India. 46-year-old Barker was appointed the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change in 2010
In his expanded role, Barker will work alongside other UK ministers including Jeremy Brown, minister of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, and Lord Green, minister for trade.
The move emphasises India’s importance for trade and investment to UK, according to CII. UK India bilateral trade is valued at £16.4bn which is 26% higher than it was in 2010. India ranks as Britain's fifth largest investor.
UK and India have taken several measures in 2012 to boost trade and investment between the two countries. In August 2012, the UK's Confederation of British Industry (CBI) re-opened its offices in the Indian capital Delhi to improve Britain's business links with India.
In September, the British High Commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan will lead a 25-member delegate to Kerala state for an entrepreneurial-networking event called Emerging Kerala.
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