Manchester-India Partnership launches to boost international trade

Jo Ahmed

A new international trade initiative has been launched to boost Manchester’s links with India and attract new investment into the city.

Details of the Manchester-India partnership have been outlined by Lord Jim O’Neil at a reception at the House of Commons.

The partnership will be chaired by Andrew Cowan, chief executive of Manchester Airport, with dedicated staff in Delhi, Bangalore and Manchester.

A number of the region’s leading public and private sector organisations are behind the initiative, including Deloitte, Manchester Airports Group, Squire Patton Boggs, Growth Company, MIDAS and Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Manchester-India Partnership has been designed to build trade, investment, cultural and educational ties between the two locations.

It will connect Manchester’s innovation and research capabilities with Indian industry and research institutes in areas such as advanced materials and big data.

The region has already seen major investments from knowledge-based Indian companies such as HCL, Hero Cycles and 42Gears, which have acknowledged the importance of forging global relationships.

Similarly, the Universities of Salford and Bolton have formed strategic partnerships with Bangalore and the State of Karnataka to position Manchester as an attractive base for Indian researchers, students and tourists.

The Manchester-India Partnership also aims to further increase direct air routes to India to broaden existing economic and cultural links.

Jo Ahmed, partner and head of Deloitte Manchester’s global employer services team, said: “Manchester and India already have a long history of collaboration, trade and connectivity, and great work is already underway to grow these links.

“Prime Minister Modi’s speech at Davos further reinforced the benefits of international trade and therefore the formalised Manchester-India Partnership will add greater emphasis to building relationships in the region, providing access for many of the city’s businesses into a new and emerging market.”

Lord O’Neill said: “The Manchester-India Partnership is an exciting initiative, which recognises the rising importance of global cities in forging strategic international partnerships. India is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies; it therefore makes eminent sense for Manchester to further develop its’ air connectivity, trade, science and cultural links with this emerging global power.”

Cowan said: “Forging closer relationships with the world’s most important markets is key to the future prosperity of Manchester and the wider region. That is why I am pleased to be chairing the Manchester-India Partnership, which will exist to strengthen the trade and cultural ties between the two locations.”

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