Following the recent EU-India summit, Indian Prime Minister Singh has praised the work of South West Euro-MP Graham Watson who led a delegation to India earlier this year.
During the summit, leaders agreed increased cooperation between businesses, greater partnership to tackle naval piracy as well as issuing a joint declaration on further cultural partnership and integration.
In a speech to the summit, Singh said he was ‘very glad that the visit of the delegation of the European Parliament to India was a huge success. We should encourage many more such contacts’.
Graham Watson is the chairman of the European parliamentary delegation for relations with India. Britain is the largest importer of Indian goods within the EU, worth around £3.9bn a year, however there is a trade deficit of around £850m.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s comments, Graham said: “As one of the world’s fastest growing economies, India has great potential in terms of trading both at a union level and in creating new deals with regional businesses. The UK currently has a trade deficit with India and summits such as this are of great help to boost UK exports.’’
On the EU-India joint cultural declaration, Graham said: “Agreements to strengthen political and cultural ties will also be a welcome message to the large Indian communities within the South West.’’
(from a press release)
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