Supplementary memorandum from UKTI
TRADE AND
INVESTMENT WITH
INDIA REPORT—ONE
YEAR ON
Thank you for your e-mail of 15 January 2008
seeking points of clarification and a number of final questions
relating to the completion of the Committee's "one year on"
report on Trade and Investment with India. This letter seeks to
confirm the material provided to you by e-mail on 18 January.
As before, taking your questions in order:
1. Was there a UK-India Investment Summit
in 2007?
At the time of the June written submission that
was the anticipation—timed to coincide with the then expected
visit to India by the Prime Minister in October/November 2007.
In the event the visit was delayed until this month (January 2008).
The Prime Minister's programme provided an opportunity for the
group of senior UK business interests travelling with him to meet
with the Prime Minister for India and discuss matters relating
to bilateral trade and investment.
2. Are there 91 or 88 staff in India? When
does "end of this period" refer to?
91 is the correct figure. The UKTI June 2007
written memorandum did not to take fully into account some of
the re-profiling of existing High Commission staff priorities
to be more trade and investment focused—equivalent to a
three full time equivalent staff uplift over the 88 quoted. Asif
Ahmad reference to "this period" referred to end of
year.
3. First Secretary in Mumbai focused solely
on financial services?
Resources at Mumbai have been increased to include
a First Secretary Commercial whose principal role is to pursue
trade and investment opportunities in the financial services sector.
4. High Growth Market Programme (HGMP)—number
of specialists with responsibility for India?
One HGMP specialist with responsibilities for
India has already been appointed and is already active on Indian
issues. A second appointment is envisaged.
5. 2007 Lord Jones visit report?
A copy of the unclassified reporting e-gram
of Lord Jones visit to India last September is attached at Annex
A
6. JETCO Ministerial Report availability?
The Joint Statement still being cleared with
the Indian Commerce Ministry—a copy will be passed to the
Committee once it has been released.
7. When can we expect UKIBC's JETCO website/s?
UKIBC's website is currently undergoing an upgrade—it
is anticipated that the JETCO content will appear in early/mid
February.
8. UKTI Written Memorandum's reference to
IBBOrg rather than UKIBC?
At the time of writing the memorandum, the IBBOrg
was the working title for the re-branding of the IBPN—in
the event the UKIBC title was thought to better reflect the aspirations
of the new organisation."
9. What is the proper sterling valuation
of the Vodafone-Hutchinson Essar deal?
We understand the value to be US $11.1 billion—approximately
£5.5 billion.
10. Confirm that UKTIs offices are in New
Delhi, Chandigarh, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai,
Ahmedabad (Gujarat), and Pune?
Locations are correct.
Finally, just to reconfirm the figures provided
to you earlier of UK based versus locally engaged staff in the
UKTI India network, they are 17 and 74 respectively.
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