Article Posted on : - Sep 14, 2009

The two countries would look for tie-ups in defence, aerospace sector.

LONDON, (PTI): To explore greater ties in defence and aerospace technology between the two countries, Britain's Trade, Investment and Business minister Lord Mervyn Davies will be in New Delhi on a four-day visit starting Monday.

“UK and India stand shoulder-to-shoulder in this new millennium and will explore all avenues to have greater tie-ups in defence technology and aero-space,” Davies said ahead of his visit.

During his trip, Davies will visit Mumbai and Delhi. He will also visit Nagpur – an emerging new aerospace hub – to support a delegation of British businesses led by the UK India Business Council, headed by former minister Patricia Hewitt.

The delegation will include chiefs of companies from urban infrastructure, town planning, mining, energy, legal, financial, construction, water, power, education and brand marketing sectors.

BAE, Britain's leading aerospace company is already providing HAWK technology to India under its 1 billion pounds deal signed few years ago.
India is the second largest investor in the UK, next only to the US. The bilateral trade last year crossed 12 billion pounds and Indian companies, numbering over 75, created about 4,000 jobs in the UK.