Seeking to build “one of the great partnerships” of the 21st century, British Prime Minister David Cameron will begin a three-day official visit to India from tomorrow during which he will meet his counterpart Manmohan Singh and discuss issues of common interest.

Accompanied by a high-level business delegation, Cameron will arrive in Mumbai, where his programmes include a visit to the Hindustan Unilever headquarters, a business interaction at the Taj Palace Hotel, a visit to St Xaviers School and laying a wreath at the Police Memorial.

Cameron will hold discussions with Prime Minister Singh in New Delhi on February 19 and discuss bilateral and global issues of common interest. He will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee on the same day. The British Prime Minister last visited India in July 2010.

His visit to India comes on the heel of a visit by French President Francois Hollande to drum up trade and bilateral relations.

Ahead of his visit, Cameron said he wanted the relationship between India and the UK to be “one of the great partnerships of the 21st century”.

Cameron’s delegation will include representatives of small and medium enterprises. British retailers are keen to increase their presence in India and executives from supermarket chain Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer which already has a joint venture in India, are expected to accompany him.

The Prime Minister is confident that he will reach the goal of doubling Britain’s trade with India from 11.5 billion pounds in 2010 to 23 billion by 2015.

Cameron will also use the trip to correct any misunderstandings about his Government’s drive to bring immigration numbers under control amid concerns that Indian students could be deterred from applying to study in Britain.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW