MERSEYSIDE is well-placed to benefit from growing trading links with India, a key conference will hear today.
India and Liverpool City Region: Investment Opportunities for business is taking place at the Partnership for Learning building next to Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) Halewood factory.
Speakers include the economic minister at the UK India High Commission, Mr Amit Dev Mehta, Amit Metha, senior vice president of Tata Capital, part of the Tata group which owns JLR and former Cheshire chemicals company Brunner Mond, and Sir Thomas Harris, vice-chairman of Liverpool FC shirt sponsor Standard Bank, which is mainly focused on the Asia markets.
Brian Thorp, North West director of the Government- funded UK India Business Council (UKIBC) is also speaking at the event, organised by inward investment body The Mersey Partnership.
He said UKIBC helps companies interested in trading with India, and has become the “de facto Chamber of Commerce” for UK-India trade.
He said there is a “massive infrastructure deficit” in India requiring “billions and billions” of pounds to be spent, which provides opportunities for UK companies, as well as IT and logistics openings linked to the agricultural sector.
Mr Thorp added: “The UK is well-placed because of historical ties, but Merseyside is well-placed because it is a port and its post-Panamax distribution network is better than Folkestone because of the motorway network, so there are opportunities for the port.”
