By IANS
New Delhi : Virgin group’s Richard Branson and Cobra Beer’s Karan Bilimoria are among some of the high-profile entrepreneurs to be inducted as members of an advisory board to be announced during British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s upcoming visit to India later this week.
“The advisory board will comprise 42 members. It will be the right podium to push India-UK relations,” said Bilimoria, who is also a member of the British House of Lords and co-chair of the Indo-British Partnership (IBP) initiative.
“We will work as a catalyst for trade interests of business communities of both the countries,” the Cobra beer founder, who is heading a large delegation of British industry as part of Brown’s visit, told IANS.
This visit coincides with the visit of British Trade and Investment Minister Digby Jones.
According to Sharon Bamford, chief executive of the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC), which will oversee the new board, both Britain and India share a lot of commonalities and enhanced cross-border trade ties would boost relations.
“We are negotiating with Indian businessmen to set up a similar board here. The members will discuss at the highest level to promote a barrier-free trade ties with India,” she said at an event to facilitate talks with the delegates.
The delegation, with representatives drawn from the aviation, knowledge-based sectors, engineering, banking and other industries, is slated to meet with key Indian officials and ministers to discuss the proposed advisory board.
“From education to engineering and aviation to technology, India is emerging as a big power and we want to tap it,” said Bamford, who is also part of the business delegation.
“Indian business leaders are now global players and we would like them to invest in UK. Similarly, we will facilitate our business community to tap opportunity in India.”
Bilimoria said Britain was no longer “the sick child of Europe” and that the British industry saw improved trade, investment and economic ties with India of paramount importance to boost its own economy.
“Opportunities in India are immense,” said Bilimoria, who was among 12 members of Indian diaspora achievers who were honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by President Pratibha Patil last week.
“India has a huge pool of talent. It can fulfil the requirements in the UK. Similarly, UK can share its expertise in many areas. Thus both countries can supplement and complement each other.”
He said the advisory board would help a host of industries – from insurance to law farms, banking institutions to car manufacturers and standalone businesses to those pursuing joint ventures, acquisitions and mergers.