London: Notwithstanding trade union protests over outsourcing of jobs to India, Indo-UK relations during 2003 have been at the "peak", Lord Swraj Paul, NRI industrialist and Ambassador for Overseas British Business said today (Dec 28, 2003).

"India-British relations at this point of time are at the peak and more could be done. More effort can produce better result for the benefit of both countries," Lord Paul said on the eve of his fortnight-long visit to Sri Lanka and India commencing on Dec 30, 2003.

He said the India-UK Round Table, Co-chaired by him and India's Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission K C Pant, had contributed a great deal for bringing about a change in the atmosphere.

"Trade is increasing. More and more Indian Companies are coming into Britain and they are well respected and well received. This is an opportunity for India to be able to use entrepreneurial and technological success in Britain as a window to the whole world," Lord Paul, Chancellor of the Wolverhamton University, said.

"British Companies themselves are thinking India as a natural source of supply for them because Indian suppliers know British market and their expectations.

"There is a great deal of effort being made in combining research and development between the two countries and the Indo-British agreement on Science and Technology signed during Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to India is going from strength to strength."

British Minister for Industry and the Regions, Jacqui Smith told the House of Commons recently that protectionism is not the right response to off-shoring by companies.

Lord Paul, accompanied by Lady Aruna Paul, would leave for Chennai on December 30. He will speak at a luncheon hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) at Hotel Park Sheraton on Jan 02, 2004.

Lord Paul will be in Sri Lanka for six days from January 3 mainly as the Ambassador for Overseas British Business.

He is scheduled to meet a number of ministers including Prof G L Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Jayalath Jayawardane, Minister of Rehabilitation and Re-Construction, Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Lord Paul will return to Chennai on January 8 and proceed to Kolkata to co-chair the seventh meeting of the India-UK Round Table commencing the next day.

At the three-day Round Table, the main subject of discussion would be post-Cancun Multilateral Trading System: The Way Forward and the fight against terrorism.

UK's delegation will include Michael Arthur, UK High Commissioner to India, Sir David Goodall and Sir Rob Young, both former High Commissioners to India, Prof Judith Brown, Professor of Commonwealth Studies, Oxford University, Patrick French, author, Carey Oppenheim, Senior Adviser to the British Prime Minister, Sir Mark Tully, Freelance writer and journalist, and David Robert, Managing Director, British Gas (Eastern Hemisphere).