Indian investments in West Midlands double in two years

LONDON: Indian investments in the West Midlands in the UK has more than doubled in the last two years, it was officially stated on Thursday.

More than 1,000 jobs have been created since 2006 by 14 companies, meaning there are now over 20 Indian-owned businesses in the region, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra and Aditya Birla.

"The West Midlands' excellence in terms of its connectivity with the rest of the UK, access to skills and availability of world-class research and development facilities is something we need to continue building on and we need to leave companies in India in no doubt about the advantages of investing here," John Edwards, chief executive of Advantage West Midlands, said.

"Emerging markets such as India are a massive opportunity and the West Midlands is in pole position to be able to capitalise," he said.

Edwards' comments echo those made by Trade Minister Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham, who last week visited India as part of a trade delegation.

Lord Jones said India offered a wealth of opportunities for West Midlands companies, especially those in the automotive sector.

"This visit has borne out what I have been saying about India for a long time now," Lord Jones who visited the Auto Expo in Delhi, said.

"It is a land of opportunity for British firms and especially those in the West Midlands, and the good thing is that Indian companies want to do business with the UK because the government does not interfere," he said.