Visit by CFCC Members to the Indian High Commission
On Tuesday 20th January, Members of the Conservative Foreign & Commonwealth Council (CFCC) attended an evening reception and discussion at the Indian High Commission, where they were hosted and warmly received by His Excellency Vikram Doraiswami, the High Commissioner for India.
In introducing His Excellency to CFCC members, Lord Howell of Guildford, President of the CFCC, described him as a big friend of the UK whose hard work on UK-India relations has resulted in the recent signing of a transformational and, in the context of the world order, strategically important Treaty between the UK and India.
The details of the Treaty currently are being considered in the House of Lords and Lord Howell therefore would have to excuse himself and to leave the event early in order to continue in the on-going parliamentary discussion on the Treaty. However, he said, Lord Jim O’Neill of Gatley and Lady Catherine Meyer, Chairman of the CFCC, would continue with the introductions and the scene -setting for the evening’s discussions.
He reminded all present that Lord O’Neill, 25 years ago, when assessing the future balance of the world had perceived the growth of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and had coined the acronym the BRICS to describe their country grouping.
Of the BRICS, India has played a key role in the expansion of global trade and investment and it represents 50% of all inter-Commonwealth trade. India has significantly contributed to the importance of the BRICS grouping and it can only grow and grow.
Lady Meyer confirmed that the UK/India free treaty agreement signed in May is going well. India has the largest number of delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos which reflects the importance of India in the world trade order.
Lord O’Neill, Economist, former government Minister and Chair of Chatham House and now with his own think tank – the new platform will be BRICS+ THINKING, and it is not live or established until the Spring, described the BRICS as a platform for inducing better thinking in the West and in the BRICS -‘an escape from us to them’. Donald Trump had brought attention to a world divided between the West, being the US and Japan, and three BRICS, being China, India and Russia. China and India combined are much larger now since the establishment of the BRICS and in future are expected to be bigger than the G7. By becoming so very much larger, the West needs to be serious and honest about the values it applies and economics will determine the future.
In a most thoughtful address, the High Commissioner referred to the interesting times we are living in. The old world order is in exit and a new world order is needed. It is a case of break or bust. As a starting point, the UK is in a good position for ‘new plumbing’ with new countries such as India providing the energetic vitality.
India has been investing heavily in sustainable technologies and processes ranging from space programmes, film making, life sciences, many forms of digitisation including citizen verification, cost saving processes, payment systems and artificial intelligence models, amongst others. Every month it was producing technology and other startups.
India therefore with its 140 million English speakers is the ideal for the UK- India partnership to thrive in so many fields.
Cooperation would be based on stable close relationships with a focus on mutual intention and complementary knowledge. This would be a template for the new world order ahead.
Following this positive address, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Patron of the CFCC and former Chairman opened up the floor to questions of which there were many.
Knowledge of and interest in India by the questions was evident not least about the technology sector including green technologies and the opportunities for partnerships. There were questions on law and governance, education, on Commonwealth relations and on India’s defence & security, which were answered deftly.
Following the Q & A there was time for attendees to mingle, meet the High Commissioner and his team who had staged this excellent event together and discuss issues raised.
Thanks to Lord Ranger for the introduction and Melissa Crawshay- Williams and her team for the initiative and arrangements for this well attended event and of course to the close cooperation of the High Commission team for making it such a success.
William Knight
Photos: Jamila Robertson
