South Yorkshire Mayor Dan Jarvis, with the High Commissioner of India to the UK, Ms Gaitri Issar Kumar, with Kevin McCole, Managing Director of UKIBC (far left) and representatives of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Trade links between Yorkshire and India strengthend with "top level meeting"

Trade links between South Yorkshire and India have been strengthened following a top level meeting in London.

The Mayor of South Yorkshire, Dan Jarvis, and the High Commissioner of India to the UK, Ms Gaitri Issar Kumar, both attended.

The meeting was arranged to gain the High Commissioner’s personal support for the planned visit by delegates from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) plus local businesses, to the Maharashtra region of India in 2022.

The discussions focused on how the High Commissioner of India to the UK may be able to support the Civic, Academic and Trade and Investment themes that South Yorkshire MCA has planned for the visit.

Mayor of South Yorkshire Dan Jarvis said: “We continue to forge strong relationships with India and this latest meeting was important in securing the High Commissioner to the UK’s support in our trade mission to India next year.

“The meeting was very productive and we really welcome the support of the High Commissioner and her office in making this a success for both South Yorkshire and India.”

South Yorkshire MCA has recently set up and run its first South Yorkshire India Advisory Board. This Board brings together Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield, our local research centres, local Chambers of Commerce, the DIT India and the Pune Chamber of Commerce.

South Yorkshire MCA is also planning to hold an Investor Round Table in the new year, as well as an Ed Tech showcase.

In 2017, our region introduced the strategy: ‘Make in India, Design and Develop with the South Yorkshire Region’. Since then, the relationship between South Yorkshire and India has grown and developed and has been able to open up greater trading opportunities.

To further connections, in 2020, the South Yorkshire India Growth Champions programme was established to help local companies to secure new or increased exports to India. Nine Growth Champions are now going through the programme, and it is targeted that this group will secure export wins worth £1.3m.

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