Trade boost expected following Indian Deputy High Commissioner’s Nottingham visit

Indian's Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Virander Paul, and representatives the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will be visiting Nottingham on Wednesday (22nd April) to meet representatives from the city's public, private and academic organisations to look to increase trade and investment links between the city and India.

Led by Nottingham City Council, a group of more than 40 local organisations including Nottingham Means Business, The University of Nottingham, the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce and UKIBC are hoping to connect businesses looking for commercial opportunities with key contacts in India and is part of a concerted joint effort to focus on improving trade links with India, boosting collaboration and export.

The visit will strengthen the city’s research, trade and investment links in India and build on a Memorandum of Understanding which was signed last month between Panjab University and the University of Nottingham and between the Confederation of Indian Industry, Chandigarh Council and Nottingham City Council.

There will be a particular focus on IT and communications technology, manufacturing and advanced engineering, life sciences, creative industries, clean technologies, and skills development, especially the interface between industry and academia.

Representatives from Air India, Infosys and the State Bank of India will accompany the Deputy High Commissioner and CII to the event. Local businesses will be on hand to observe the special address, look at opportunities for business partnerships and take part in a networking session.

Chris Henning, Nottingham City Council’s Director of Economic Development, said: “Nottingham is committed to advancing the interests of local business in key markets such as India, China and Germany, where the priority sectors are a good fit and there are gains to be made on both sides.

“Our city can offer a very attractive investment platform for Indian businesses, due to our fast-growing, innovative businesses, academic specialisms and location at the heart of the UK, providing a strong gateway to trade with Europe. We will be aiming to attract inward investors from Chandigarh and help our local businesses to trade and export to India and take advantage of their accelerating consumer markets.”

Shuchita Sonalika, Director & Head of CII’s UK operations, said, “We are delighted to partner with Nottingham City Council and other stakeholders in bringing this platform of knowledge and business exchange to Nottingham. We are seeing a lot of interest from Indian companies to venture out and look at business opportunities in untapped areas across the UK – and Nottingham is our first stop under CII’s new RoadtripUK initiative.”

Paul North, International Trade Relationship Manager from East Midlands Chamber said: “We welcome Dr Virander Paul and members of CII’s business forum enabling us to strengthen ties between India and our exporting members products and services. The visit coincides with the chamber’s launch of its export grow strategy to increase cooperation with Indian businesses to trade with this vibrant market.”

For more information contact:

Sarah Athow-Frost
Marketing & Communications Specialist- Economic Development
Telephone: (+44) 0115 8764486 M: 07960486329
Email: sarah.athow-frost@nottinghamcity.gov.uk