Ken Livingstone and a delegation of London ‘ambassadors’ are to visit India later this month to promote closer ties between the capital and India in business, tourism, education and the creative industries.
The high level delegation will take part in a series of meetings, seminars and conferences on the theme of ‘London and India: Partners in Globalisation’ and will include Lord Sebastian Coe and Paul Deighton, Chairman and Chief Executive of London 2012 Organising Committee; Peter Hendy, Commissioner for Transport for London; Michael Charlton, Chief Executive of Think London; James Bidwell, Chief Executive of Visit London; and Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London.
The Mayor Ken Livingstone said: “India is a rising economic superpower. It has a growth rate of over nine per cent a year, 1.2 billion people and it already accounts for the second highest number of inward investment projects into London after the US. Last year, India was one of the three countries accounting for the majority of world economic growth.”
“The Indian community is already the largest minority ethnic community in London and London’s strength as the most globalised city is helped immensely by its Indian community – there are already 10,000 Indian-owned businesses in the capital. Cultural interaction between India and London is already strong and is going to increase even further.”
“The aim of this visit is to continue to build on and reinforce these links to strengthen a deep rooted and special relationship between London and India.”
