{"id":4983,"date":"2015-12-07T12:27:47","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T12:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/?p=4983"},"modified":"2020-06-15T12:00:46","modified_gmt":"2020-06-15T11:00:46","slug":"4983","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/?p=4983","title":{"rendered":"UK and India’s Rejuvenated Union"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mayank Gupta<\/strong><\/em>
\nUK and India\u2019s Rejuvenated Union<\/strong><\/em>
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\nEvidences from History:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The reunion between the United Kingdom and India is a sight for sore eyes. India\u2019s history with the UK dates back to the 16th century when the latter had vested trade interests in the former. PM Modi\u2019s visit is not an anomaly; other Indian heads of state have paid a visit to the monarchy. The former colonial powerhouse shares a variety of interests with its colonial master, namely, both are members of the Commonwealth Organisation. However, his visit was not to merely reminisce about good old days, but rather a calculated stance to foster greater trade relations with the UK. India is dealing with a grappling economy and is looking to entice more foreign investment to build on its infrastructure, specifically data transmission and satellite. India definitely has better relations with France and Germany, who have injected and pledged billions of dollars in propping its economy. Unlike these two economic powerhouses, Britain\u2019s trade engagements with India are fickle, and exchange of goods can best be described as trickling in.
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\nFDI from the UK to India during the last 4 years:<\/strong><\/p>\n

2010-11: US$ 2.7 billion
\n2011-12: US$ 7.8 billion\u200b
\n2012-13: US$ 1.0 billion
\n2013-14: US$ 3.2 billion
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\n\u200bTouching Multiple Spheres:<\/strong><\/p>\n

This revitalised relationship between the two countries can be viewed from different angles, cultural, economic and political. Narendra Modi visited the UK amidst a lot of critical acclaims, and although it was not a state visit, he was privy to a guard of honour and public address from England\u2019s national football ground, Wembley. It also entailed an official address to Parliament, making him the first Indian head of government to do so. His visit was made smoother by the outpouring support of the Indians in the diaspora who are about a million of the total population in the United Kingdom. Many of them moved here to pursue higher education or for better job opportunities as well as family cohesion.
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\nPeople as the Backdrop:<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is significant to determine why Britain was keen to allure India. It is estimated that 1.5 million Indians live in Britain and, therefore, contribute to the economic prosperity of the country. PM David Cameron has visited India thrice to carve a niche in the Indian space that has about quarter a billion consumers. This makes for fertile ground to trade and set up shop in India. Britain has already invested over 22 billion USD in India since 2000 hence making it the biggest G20 investor in the country.<\/p>\n

Of course, the meeting of the two premiers involved clearing the bit on the informal travel ban that had been imposed on Modi, with Cameron explaining that the former had not been banned per se but had a non-engagement with him until 2012 which meant that Britain could not offer him immunity from arrest. Modi also backed this claim by stating that time constraints had made it difficult for him to travel to the European country.
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\nTangible Achievements:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The meet was sealed with a 13.7 billion USD commercial agreement that touched on trade, civil nuclear agreement and education. The deals aimed to facilitate more bilateral cooperation with specific focus on civil and military technology and nuclear research projects. The two Prime Ministers received the successful close of consultations on a two-pronged Civil Nuclear Co-operation Agreement offering a framework for further collaboration, and announced the ratification of MoU between the UK and the Indian Department of Atomic Energy to hearten joint training besides experience sharing on Civil Nuclear together with the Indian Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership.
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\nOn his initial day of the stay in the UK, Mr Modi and Mr Cameron signed over 20 other deals that touched on:<\/strong><\/p>\n