• West Midlands to lead new programme to bolster activity with Indian market across trade, tourism, investment and partnerships
• Partners signed up include industry heavyweights Jaguar Land Rover, PwC, State Bank of India UK, Birmingham City University and DLA Piper
A new West Midlands India Partnership (WMIP), which aims to enhance UK-India relations and boost tourism, trade and investment between the West Midlands and India, has launched on 26 June 2020.
The Partnership will support the region’s long-term economic growth plans by developing stronger links and opportunities for collaboration as part of a five-year programme of activity with the Indian market.
Led by the West Midlands Growth Company*, the new initiative has been developed in partnership with Invest India, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Consulate General of Birmingham office.
Dr. Jason Wouhra OBE, Chair of the West Midlands India Partnership, said:
”The West Midlands India Partnership is a confident step forward at a time when building resilient, productive economies is key. Through the Partnership’s long-term strategy, we aim to identify opportunities for both Indian and local businesses to trade, innovate and grow.
“By strengthening networks, collaboration in academia and airline connectivity, we want to build on our shared history to forge new opportunities for a confident future. As the former co-owner and director of East End Foods plc – a globally trading, West Midlands success story, I want to encourage Indian-owned businesses to follow in my steps and capitalise on this region’s potential.“
The WMIP will build on India’s strong track record of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the West Midlands, acting as a single point-of-contact for potential new investors. After the US, it is the leading source of FDI and FDI employment in the West Midlands – over the last 10 years, 13,000 new jobs have been created.
The region’s strong business offer has already attracted some of India’s biggest companies, including Tata Motors, State Bank of India, Infosys, OLA, Enzen Global, Suprajit Group, Elder Pharmaceuticals and more recently, Microland.
Dr. Aman Puri, Consul General of India, Birmingham, added:
“This initiative offers both British and Indian companies a fantastic new platform to collaborate on a wide range of established and emerging technologies. For SMEs in particular, it presents a real opportunity to develop more connected supply chains and scale through new commercial partnerships.
“I encourage enterprising businesses with ambitions to drive forward the industries of tomorrow, to join this exciting programme and realise the innovative potential of the West Midlands, as well as India’s growing ambitions in high-growth manufacturing and technology. I look forward to supporting the important and inspiring vision of the West Midlands India Partnership.”
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