SHILLONG, Nov 21 ? Enhanced economic co-operation between the United Kingdom (UK) and India is helping the North East, British High Commissioner to India, Sir Michael Anthony Arthur has claimed.
Addressing a press conference after holding discussions with Meghalaya Governor MM Jacob, Chief Minister DD Lapang and senior Government officials here on Friday, the High Commissioner said Indo-British relations were currently ?very buoyant.?
?A host of statistics amply indicate how this relationship is flourishing,? he pointed out, adding that bilateral trade of goods and service between the two countries is worth nearly 5 billion pounds a year, and is growing on average by a staggering 20 per cent.
Investment between the United Kingdom and India was also growing he said pointing out that the UK was the second largest investor in India. ?But India is rapidly emerging as a major investor into the UK too ? now the eighth largest with 60 per cent of all Indian investment in the European Union coming into Britain,? he stressed.
During the nine-day tour of the North-East, the British High Commissioner visited the States of Nagaland, Assam and Meghalaya and held high-level discussions with senior government officials and representatives from industry and civil societies.
The High Commissioner also explored the scope for trade and investment during his visit to these States. His visit to the North-East was part of the ongoing process to further strengthen Indo-British relations over a wide spectrum of areas including education, environment, climate change and sustainable development.
Meanwhile, praising the beauty of Meghalaya capital Shillong, Sir Michael, who was accompanied by the British Deputy High Commissioner to Eastern India Dr. Andrew Hall said there was wide scope for private sector British investment to boost tourism in this State and the NE as a whole.
Chief Minister Lapang told reporters after meeting the High Commissioner that the State Government urged facilitation of export of organic products from Meghalaya to Britain.