Britain opens deputy High Commission office in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Britain today opened its deputy High Commission office here.

Simon Fraser, permanent under-secretary and head of the British Diplomatic Services while opening the office, said they are going to open another office in Chandigarh, bringing the total British Deputy High Commissions in India to seven.

"British diplomacy is engaged in a significant shift towards the power of Asia, with India as a centerpiece. A new office in Hyderabad was top priority. Partnership with Andhra Pradesh offers immense opportunity to expand trade and investment between the UK and this important part of India," Fraser told reporters here.

James Bevan, British High Commissioner to India, said they are eyeing to double the bilateral trade which was pegged at $13 billion in 2010, by 2015 and cooperate in a host of other areas including research and innovation.

Bevan said Britain is mulling open Deputy High Commissions in some other cities also and discussions with Indian Government are underway in this regard.

Besides the British High Commission in New Delhi, there are UK missions in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore. It also has two trade offices in Pune and Ahmadabad.

Besides Punjab and Haryana, the proposed Chandigarh office will also be responsible for Britain's relationship with Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Rajasthan. Both the diplomats called on Andhra Pradesh Governor and Chief Minister.