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Osborne and Hague start India visit | Osborne and Hague start India visit |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Britain's Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague have begun a two-day trip to India. | |
They are looking to open up investment opportunities for UK firms in India's defence and infrastructure sector, and attract Indian investment into Britain. | They are looking to open up investment opportunities for UK firms in India's defence and infrastructure sector, and attract Indian investment into Britain. |
The visit comes as a new government led by Narendra Modi has taken charge in India - Asia's third-largest economy. | The visit comes as a new government led by Narendra Modi has taken charge in India - Asia's third-largest economy. |
Mr Modi is widely expected to announce new reforms to boost economic growth. | Mr Modi is widely expected to announce new reforms to boost economic growth. |
"I believe a stronger relationship with Britain will help deliver the new economic policy of the Indian government," Mr Osborne said in a speech in Mumbai. | |
"Prime Minister Modi is seeking more investment in India's economy - and I want British companies to provide it, and the British government to support it." | "Prime Minister Modi is seeking more investment in India's economy - and I want British companies to provide it, and the British government to support it." |
Meanwhile, Mr Osborne also announced that Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla is to invest up to £100m in the UK. | |
'Excitement and optimism' | 'Excitement and optimism' |
India's economy has struggled in recent years with rising price pressures and problems with bureaucracy and corruption. | India's economy has struggled in recent years with rising price pressures and problems with bureaucracy and corruption. |
That has hurt the confidence of foreign investors looking to enter the country. | That has hurt the confidence of foreign investors looking to enter the country. |
However, a landslide win for the Mr Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent general elections has sparked hopes of a revival in India's economy. | However, a landslide win for the Mr Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent general elections has sparked hopes of a revival in India's economy. |
Both foreign and local investors have been hoping that Mr Modi will introduce fresh reforms and boost investment in key sectors to help spur growth. | Both foreign and local investors have been hoping that Mr Modi will introduce fresh reforms and boost investment in key sectors to help spur growth. |
As a result, various countries have been keen to boost ties with India's new government and open up opportunities for their businesses. | As a result, various countries have been keen to boost ties with India's new government and open up opportunities for their businesses. |
"It's great to be here at a time when the excitement about the Indian economy, and the optimism about the prospects for future growth, are palpable," Mr Osborne said. | |
"And the excitement here is matched by new confidence among international investors abroad in the future of the Indian economy. | "And the excitement here is matched by new confidence among international investors abroad in the future of the Indian economy. |
"It is a measure of the ambition and drive and pace of the new government of prime minister Modi, that this complete turn-around in sentiment about the Indian economy has been achieved in just seven short weeks, since that stunning election victory." | "It is a measure of the ambition and drive and pace of the new government of prime minister Modi, that this complete turn-around in sentiment about the Indian economy has been achieved in just seven short weeks, since that stunning election victory." |
The visit by Britain's two senior ministers follows a series of other high-profile visits to India - including those by the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. | The visit by Britain's two senior ministers follows a series of other high-profile visits to India - including those by the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. |
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