City Council leader unveils plans for business links with India

Oct 14 2010 By Lauren Crooks

A BUSINESS partnership to help Scots companies expand into India is being launched.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, announced the Scotland India Business Organisation during a speech in Delhi, where he is attending the Commonwealth Games.

It will be run under the auspices of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry and Business Club Scotland.

Matheson said: "In the last decade, Glasgow has been transformed into one of Europe's most vibrant, energetic and cosmopolitan cities.

"It is Scotland's largest urban economy - with an annual output of some £15.7billion - and it is also the employment, retail, cultural and leisure focus for the entire country.

"Our skilled workforce is bolstered by the city's ability to attract people from all corners of the globe to live and work. This, allied to competitively priced operating costs, means the city has been well placed to withstand the rigours of current economic circumstances and continues to compete very effectively with other locations.

"There is also huge potential for Glasgow to do business with such a fast-growing economy as India and we are keen to build on the excellent networks that already exist between our two great cities."

It is hoped the Scotland India Business Organisation will ensure that relationships built between Glasgow and Delhi will continue after the 2010 Games.

Dr Lesley Sawers, chief executive of SCDI and chair of Business Club Scotland, said: "SCDI is delighted to be working with Glasgow City Council and our network of Indian business contacts on this initiative.

"Glasgow has a strong network of Indian businesspeople with close ties back to Delhi and other major cities in this fantastic market.

"We look forward to utilising these relationships to ensure that business is achieved across Glasgow, Scotland and India."

Matheson, who will attend the closing ceremony in Delhi when the Commonwealth Games Federation f lag is passed to Glasgow, also said the city was looking forward to hosting the 2014 Games.

He said: "Like Delhi, we are all rightly proud of our city's reputation as a welcoming and friendly place. In 2014, the eyes of the world will be upon us for the Commonwealth Games, the largest multi-sports event ever to be held in Scotland."