London invites desi businesses
The British capital launched a 'Year of India' in a bid to tempt more Indian firms to its shore.
By RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL, TNN |
LONDON: The British capital and its feisty mayor 'Red' Ken Livingstone launched on Tuesday a 'Year of India' in a self-confessedly transparent bid to tempt ever more Indian companies to test the fast-flowing waters of the London financial market by flooding in.
Ahead of the Year of India launch, the mayor's director of economic and business policy John Ross told that London could justifiably regard itself as markedly more attractive to Indians than its nearest competitors, New York and Paris.
"New York", joked Ross, "is really just an American city with a lot of foreigners in it while Paris always tells foreign investors, 'your money is very welcome but please leave your culture at home'."
Ross, who has been Livingstone's personal economic advisor for 20 years, said London stood in stark contrast to New York and Paris because it revelled in being "a global international city that wanted, even insisted, foreigners bring — and keep — their culture with them".
London's aggressive targeting of Indian companies was heralded by Livingstone, who announced the launch of India's year in London at the annual Indian business reception on Tuesday night.
Making a glancing reference to the British capital's boast of being "the most multicultural city in the world", Livingstone tickled the so-called 'global Indian G-spot' by adding that London was proud its single largest minority was people of Indian origin.
Ahead of the Year of India launch, the mayor's director of economic and business policy John Ross told that London could justifiably regard itself as markedly more attractive to Indians than its nearest competitors, New York and Paris.
"New York", joked Ross, "is really just an American city with a lot of foreigners in it while Paris always tells foreign investors, 'your money is very welcome but please leave your culture at home'."
Ross, who has been Livingstone's personal economic advisor for 20 years, said London stood in stark contrast to New York and Paris because it revelled in being "a global international city that wanted, even insisted, foreigners bring — and keep — their culture with them".
London's aggressive targeting of Indian companies was heralded by Livingstone, who announced the launch of India's year in London at the annual Indian business reception on Tuesday night.
Making a glancing reference to the British capital's boast of being "the most multicultural city in the world", Livingstone tickled the so-called 'global Indian G-spot' by adding that London was proud its single largest minority was people of Indian origin.
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