Business Secretary Vince Cable will be accompanied by five UK manufacturers this week on a trade mission to India where an advanced manufacturing subgroup of the UK/India Joint Economic & Trade Committee (JETCO).
The manufacturers joining Cable are aerospace and defence firms AgustaWestland, BAE Systems and Rolls Royce; clean power specialist Intelligent Energy; and CAD/CAM provider Delcam.
JETCO is the bilateral Government to Government mechanism through which the UK and Indian Governments discuss commercial issues, Government policy, market access and technology development with a view to mutual benefits. The advanced manufacturing subgroup will focus on ways to build and manage the relationship between the countries’ manufacturing industries more effectively.
The launch of the subgroup and its first meeting takes place on Wednesday (January 19).
The companies involved in the trip will also be looking to for commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships with private and public bodies in India during this week.
Sandy Moffat, Delcam’s Asian business development manager who will be representing the company on the trip, said: “I am both pleased and honoured to be able to represent the UK’s advanced manufacturing industry at such a high-profile event. Our success in India has shown that it is possible for British companies to do business in the country. In particular, we see growing opportunities from the continued development of the local supply chains to the aerospace and automotive industries.”
Delcam – headquartered in Birmingham – set up its Indian branch with three employees ten years ago. It now employs 125 people in the country, serving 1,400 customers.
