UK for enhancing biz ties with Gujarat, India

Britain is more comfortable doing business with India than with European countries, a top British official said here on Thursday. For British companies, India is a source to get quality work done in a cost competitive manner.

Talking to media persons on post-Brexit scenario on the sidelines of the o2h Innovation Conference in the city on Thursday, Geoff Wain, British deputy high commissioner for Gujarat and Rajasthan, said, Ïndia is very competitive in fields of services, financial services and business. We find that the work culture between India and Britain is similar. There is commonality of English language as well.”

With Gujarat, Britain sees partnership in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and energy, the sectors in which Gujarat is strong traditionally. The European country is also intensifying mutual interaction between businesses, academia and even students. Wain informed that of late the number of student visas from India grew 28%. Britain plans to send close to 25,000 students to India and invite same number of Indian students ‘to foster next generation of linkages between both the countries’.

Britain is also looking for Transfer of Technology (ToT) from British companies to Indian companies to serve Indian market and also for exports. It is also working to enable Indian startups get proper ecosystem in terms of innovation, funding and mentoring.

O2H TO EXPAND

• O2h Ventures director Sunil Shah said the firm is expanding its research facility in Ahmedabad. With an investment of 2 million pounds, it plans to set up a better facility on the outskirts of the city.