The Hindu : National : UK Automotive design team coming

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005

National

National

UK Automotive design team coming

R.K. Radhakrishnan

``The growing importance of south India to the Indian economy is obvious''

British Deputy High Commissioner in Southern India Mike Connor . — Photo: Vino John

CHENNAI: "I expect to see more and more attention paid to south India by British trade missions. ... The growing importance of south India to the whole of the Indian economy is there for everyone to see," the new British Deputy High Commissioner in south India, Mike Connor, has said.

Earlier this week, an automotive trade mission was in town. It began its tour from Chennai rather than from the usual destinations — Mumbai and New Delhi.

Trade missions coming

"We've got some more [trade missions] coming down the line. ... We've got a high-tech delegation coming soon looking for partnerships. ... The links between [the] U.K. and India you know, the icon, the Ambassador, goes back a long way. But now, we are looking not at the past, but at the future," he said in an interview.

Mr. Connor said there were opportunities for British and Indian automotive companies to work together in research and development. Next week, an automotive design team will be here. "We believe that that is the next big thing for the automotive sector. The key thing for us is that 80 per cent of the Formula One cars are designed and built in the U.K. ... I am not just talking about the shape. I am talking about the technology that goes into Formula One vehicles. So we are right at the forefront."

A specialist in trade and commerce, Mr. Connor was earlier head of South Asia unit and India group, U.K. Trade and Investment. "My perspective from sitting in London was that this is the new exciting place to be."

His office would facilitate increased business and investment between both countries. There were no targets because the Deputy High Commission did not want to "limit" itself or "set silly targets."

"My objective is to increase the amount of trade and investment going on between south India and the U.K."

More Indians are travelling to the U.K. This year, the British Deputy High Commission issued 18 per cent more visas than last year. "We have introduced [many] fast track schemes. You no longer see those horrendous queues outside," he said and added that visas were normally issued "within one day." And for the regular customers, there is a fast track system.

Partly to cater to the increasing visa applications, expansion work is on at 20, Anderson Road, the seat of the British Deputy High Commission.

"The ultramodern office ... is designed in part to be practical and functional," he said. Apart from the mandatory rainwater harvesting structures, the building has water-recycling facilities. The aim was to use relatively clean water from washing hands, for instance, for flushing toilets.

Outsourcing policy

Asked if outsourcing was a bad word in Britain, he said, "Absolutely not. [The] British Government has a very, very clear policy. ... It is for the private sector to decide where they should get the job done."

On the disposition of the average British citizen towards Asians, in general, and Indians, in particular, after the London blasts, he said it would be wrong to say that there was no negative reaction. "Generally speaking, [the] British people are determined to make sure that the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic society is not damaged by a tiny, tiny minority."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National