Bharat Joshi is new British Deputy High Commissioner

CHENNAI: Bharat Joshi is the new British Deputy High Commissioner to be based in Chennai, replacing Mike Nithavrianakis.

"It is a huge honour to represent the UK in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala.. And returning to my country of origin at a time when the UK's relations with India are growing at a faster pace than ever before - evidenced by growing trade, the opening of new UK offices across India and regular high-level visits in both directions - is a dream come true," Joshi was quoted as saying in an official release.

Born in Croydon in the UK in 1969, Joshi joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1995 and has had diplomatic postings to Gambia, Dhaka, Qatar and Cameroon, it said.

Based in Chennai since September 2013, Joshi's portfolio focuses on enhancing the trade and investment partnership between the UK and Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, in specific, it added.