British High Commissioner to India, Sir Richard Stagg came in for high praise for the role he has been playing in building up Indo-British relations and promoting bilateral trade.
LONDON: British High Commissioner to India, Sir Richard Stagg came in for high praise for the role he has been playing in building up Indo-British relations and promoting bilateral trade.
"Sir Stagg, since he assumed office in September last year, has been doing a tremendous job for promoting Britain-India relations," NRI industrialist and British Ambassador for Overseas Business, Lord Swraj Paul said at an Indo-British Partnership banquet hosted by NRI Institute in honour of Stagg, who was Knighted by the Queen recently.
On the occasion, Chairman of the British-India Business Council, Lord Karan Bilimoria said, "The whole world is looking at India where a tremendous change is taking place."
"We had worked extremely closely with Michael Arthur, the former British High Commissioner to India who had done an outstanding job. But Sir Stagg has also done an excellent job during the last six months," Bilimoria said.
Acknowledging the progress made by India, Lord Bilimoria said the country was still a long way in realising the dreams of Mahatama Gandhi and Nehru even as the Government is striving to eradicate poverty.
He welcomed the special emphasis laid by the Indian government on health, agriculture and education in its Union budget.
Keith Vaz, NRI leader and former minister said Sir Stagg would visit Leicester on Monday and deliver a lecture on Mahatma Gandhi.
Secretary General of the NRI Institute, Jagmohan Singh said they planned to auction some art works of eminent Indians to raise funds for HelpAge India, a charity.
Sir Stagg, in his address to the gathering, said though the bilateral relations between India and Britain had grown considerably "we have not yet achieved the real potential".
He said the Governments only have a limited role in the growth of the bilateral ties but "people to people link" can achieve a great deal.
Referring to India's decision to make huge investments in setting up new universities, IITs and IIMs, Sir Stagg said Britain could play a pivotal role in it.
"The potential is absolutely enormous," he said.
Acknowledging the contribution of NRIs to their home country, the British diplomat said, "You can be the real bridge between the two countries."
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