Priti Patel, member of parliament and exchequer secretary to the treasury, said that UK would soon set up a trade centre in Ahmedabad to strengthen business relations between Gujarat and Britain. While speaking at a meeting in Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Priti said UK was in the process of upgrading its trade centres in India and would also set up one in Ahmedabad. "Our ambition is to set up a trade centre in Ahmedabad, where all engaged in new business sector and also SMEs can get help. Our focus is on the SME sector in India," said Priti. She also said that a successful economy is the heart of development in every nation.
On her visit to Ahmedabad, she said: "It is fulfilling to be here in Gujarat. We speak about Gujarat's power in the UK. We have a Gujarati community there, expanding their commerce and business. One third of UK's diaspora is Gujarati." On direct flight between the UK and Ahmedabad, she assured the gathering that the UK authorities would seriously consider starting a direct flight.
"There have been wrong perceptions about UK visas among students and others. We had to shut down a few colleges recently as they were duping people. Around 100,000 Indian students have come to the UK in the last five years to pursue higher studies," added Priti, who is also UK Prime Minister David Cameron's diaspora champion. There are 700 Indian businesses in the UK, which employ around 1,00,000 people, and these businesses raked in 11 billion to16 billion pounds in 2013, she added.
