Written question asked by Lord Mann (Labour) on Friday, 7 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 November 2003. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the UK trade and investment relationship with India. - Inc figures.

Answer: John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the UK trade and investment relationship with India. [138201] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The bilateral trade and investment relationship between the UK and India is increasingly strong. In 2002, bilateral trade in goods and services was worth some £5 billion. In the first eight months of 2003, UK exports of goods to India rose by over 29 per cent. against the same period in 2002. The UK is the fourth largest investor in India (after Mauritius, USA and Japan). India is an increasingly important investor in the UK. The UK receives approximately 60 per cent. of all Indian investment into Europe. There are over 450 Indian companies with a base in the UK; approximately 75 per cent. of these are in the ICT/software sector. I look forward to visiting India in the new year to see for myself how our bilateral trade and investment relationship is progressing.

Secondary information