British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a power packed opening day of his two-day India visit in Gujarat on Thursday, even as the two countries confirmed over 1 billion pounds worth new investments and export deals in the areas ranging from software engineering to health. This will create nearly 11,000 jobs across the United Kingdom.
Johnson is the first UK prime minister to have visited Gujarat. He seemed overwhelmed seeing the cultural presentations on his way to Sabarmati Ashram, set up by Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of river Sabarmati. Johnson spent around 45 minutes at the Ashram where he was taken around by Kartikeya Sarabhai, a trustee of the Ashram, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Johnson tried his hands at the Charkha (the spinning wheel) and was gifted two books and a replica of Charkha.
The British PM also visited “Mira Kutir” where Miraben alias Madeleine Slade, Gandhiji’s disciple, lived.
One of Johnson’s engagements of the day was a meeting with industrialist Gautam Adani at the Adani Shantigram on the S G Highway. The meeting lasted for about an hour.
Adani took to Twitter to say that he was honoured to host Johnson. He went on to say that he was delighted to support climate and sustainability agenda with focus on renewables, green H2 and new energy. Adani said that they will also work with UK companies to develop defence and aerospace technologies.
The Indian industrialist also announced an academic facilitation programme for young Indians through Chevening Scholarships. The scholarships are one of the most prestigious ones being given by the United Kingdom.
Johnson also visited Gujarat Biotechnology University at the GIFT City in Gandhinagar and later paid a visit to the famous Akshardham Temple of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purshottam Sanstha in Gandhinagar. Accompanied by Patel, the British PM offered prayers and met the priests.
The United Kingdom has a sizeable number of Gujarati people and thousands of them are the followers of BAPS.
Johnson also visited the JCB plant in Halol, near Vadodara. He inaugurated the plant set up by a British company, got on to the JCB and waved to journalists. At a time when demolitions in New Delhi are being done with the help of bulldozers, there were many who took to social media to say that the British Prime Minister’s visit to the JCB plant is ironical.
Johnson will reach New Delhi on Thursday night and will have talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
New investment deals announced on Thursday (Source: Gov.uk)
Switch Mobility: Firm will establish an R&D Centre in the UK this summer, part of the companies £300m investment and plans to employ over 1000 highly skilled jobs across UK and India.
Mastek: Investment of around £79m to expand their UK operations, creating 1600 UK jobs
Firstsource: Investment to set up ‘hub and spoke’ offices across the UK, creating 1000 UK jobs
Tech Mahindra: Plans to bolster AI growth, with the aim to create 1,000 jobs in the UK
Mphasis: £5m investment to set up a new office in the north of England, generating around 700 high skill jobs
Prodapt: £100m investment expand software and technology service operations in the UK, creating around 500 jobs.
Bharat Forge – Tevva Motors: £50m to expand into a new site in the UK for electric truck manufacturing, creating 500 UK jobs
Jupiter LifeLine Hospitals Ltd: Setting up a state of the art Neuro Rehabilitation Centre for patients in the UK, creating 500 jobs with an investment of around £50m.
TVS Motors: Investing around £100m in iconic British brand Norton Motorcycle. This is expected to create 250-300 direct jobs over the next 3 years and another 500-800 indirect jobs across the supply chain.
Brinton Pharmaceuticals: Setting up a global research and development hub in the UK with an investment of £30m, creating around 300 jobs.
LTI - £1mn, creating 300 UK jobs
TVS Supply Chain Solutions: Expanding in the UK with an additional £4m investment, creating 280 jobs
Leverage Edu: Indian Edtech startup Leverage Edu investing £15m over the next three years to build its UK presence, creating 150 UK jobs
Goqii: MedTech Startup Goqii investing £10m to expanding in the UK, creating 100 high quality jobs
Property Share: First property-tech company from India entering the UK market, £10m creating 60 jobs
Xelpmoc: Indian tech company will inveast £3.5 for a technology and innovation excellence centre in the UK, creating 60 jobs.
HyperXchange: HX, one of India’s leading Refurbished electronics brand, is investing £3m to create a new entity in England and Scotland, creating 60 jobs.
Lepton Software: Expanding existing operations in Manchester. £3m, creating 56 jobs.
Byjus’s: Fintech firm has chosen the UK to be their first global innovation hub, creating 55 jobs with a £15m investment
Gayam Motor Works: £10m investment to establish an e-vehicle assembly unit in the UK, creating 55 jobs.
Searce: Technology firm will invest £10m to invest in the UK, creating 50 jobs.
Manras Technologies: Software start-up will invest 8.5m to expand operations in the UK, creating 50 jobs.
Forest Essentials: Indian luxury beauty brand investing £5m for a new UK office, creating 40 jobs
Tata Chemicals: £20m investment to expand UK operations, creating 30 jobs
Apollo Tyres: £5m investment to open a Digital Innovation Hub in the UK, creating 25 jobs
Start-up Voyager: £2.2m investment to boost UK operations, creating 25 jobs
Microlabs: Indian Pharmaceuticals company investing £10m to expand in the UK
Qure AI Technologies - £6m, creating 15 UK jobs
UK export deals announced on Thursday (Source: Gov.uk)
OptiBiotix Health plc signing an exclusive sales agreement with India’s Apollo Hospitals Group
Health education firms AT&F Solution and OrthOracle UK secure £9.82m deal to deliver medical training.
RELX sign a five-year commercial deal to delivery primary health care in 70+ medical centres.
Scott Bader will invest £23m to establish a resins manufacturing facility in India, creating 150 jobs in India.
Medical technology firm Smith and Nephew have signed multiple deals for their robotic surgical system to be used in India.
Ujala Cygnus secure a £6.9m deal to train Indian doctors in acute medicine, creating 20 jobs in the UK.
Cyanconnode announce a £5m deal to support Smart Meters in India, creating 10 UK jobs.
UK tech firm What3Words will partner with multiple Indian auto firms to provide accurate satellite navigation.
Contactless Payments pioneers McLEAR will launch the first Smart Ring in India in a £10m deal.
Wireless infrastructure manufacturer Radio Design will establish a new manufacturing centre in India.
Carbon Masters agree a joint venture to implement a waste management project in Bengaluru that will reduce carbon emissions.
Joint UK-Indian venture Pandrol Rahee will set up a state of the art manufacturing centre in West Bengal.
Deliveroo will set up its largest technology hub outside of the UK in Hyderabad, India.
Arup secure a £1m deal to accelerate India’s railway station redevelopment programme.
UK FinTech firm Revolut announce its further expansion into India, creating hundreds more jobs.