UK – India Business Opportunities
India and the UK have a unique bilateral trading relationship that offers growth and opportunities to companies looking to benefit from these socio-economic ties.
Together, we can unlock mutually beneficial and sustainable economic opportunities. Our region’s firm business offer has already attracted some of India’s biggest companies, including Tata Motors, State Bank of India, Infosys, OLA, Enzen Global, Suprajit Group, Elder Pharmaceuticals and, more recently, Microland.
Why Indian UK investment finds success
On 21 April 2022, the West Midlands Growth Company held an event to discover what makes the West Midlands a lucrative place for Indian investment, particularly regarding the Future Mobility sector.
We heard from speakers involved at all levels of the industry, from CEOs who have found great success to the leaders of research who have helped develop the technology that keeps the sector thriving.
India-West Midlands trade and investment
The West Midlands has outperformed all regions other than London and South East in attracting Indian foreign direct investment (FDI) over the last decade.
The region is home to 76 recorded Indian FDI investments, worth over £3.5bn, in Future Mobility, Creative Technologies and Modern Business Services, employing over 13,000 people.
Significant value opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing and the potential to increase two-way trade in Professional Business Services and ICT offer India and the West Midlands the chance to export leading-edge digital technologies and high-value knowledge and skills.
UK-India Connectivity
The West Midlands’ Birmingham Airport is the only UK airport outside London with direct flights to India. Demand for Air India’s direct flights to and from Birmingham, Delhi and Amritsar was rising rapidly before the pandemic.
In the West Midlands, you’ll find a region at the centre of a connected transport network. It’s close to London and within a four-hour drive for 90% of the UK population.
A £5.1 billion investment is enhancing local connectivity to expand rail, tram and bus rapid transit systems. Excitingly, High Speed 2 (HS2) – the UK’s new high-speed rail network, is transforming the region’s connectivity and economic landscape with a new landmark station in Birmingham.
India-West Midlands Tourism
With direct flights into Birmingham Airport, Indian tourists travelling for leisure and business have a world of attractions, entertainment and natural beauty in the West Midlands.
We have a warm and welcoming youthful, and diverse population and areas rich in history and industrial innovation. Discover the birth places of world-famous manufacturing, culture and literature, award-winning museums and some of the UK’s best-loved attractions.
In 2022, the global spotlight is firmly on the West Midlands, with Birmingham playing host city to the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Innovation
The region has an outstanding innovation offer for India, with a proven track record of successful collaboration between its universities, businesses and broader innovation ecosystem.
Join other Indian companies driving direct R&D investment and innovation within the West Midlands, particularly in Future Mobility and electrification. New and existing innovation partnerships have the potential to increase exponentially in growth areas such as 5G and smart cities, low carbon, digitalisation, and MedTech.
Indian students, education and skills
The West Midlands’ diverse talent pool is driving the region forward. Between 2018-19 and 2019-20, Indian student enrolments in the area more than doubled to over 5,000
Over the last five years, the West Midlands has been the third most popular region for Indian student enrollment after London and the East of England, with four West Midlands universities featuring in the top 20 for Indian student enrollment in 2019/20.
Skills for Indian businesses
We understand that Indian businesses have a high demand for specialist vocational and executive education, which the region’s universities are well-placed to supply. We’re actively working to increase Indian higher education student numbers in the region following the introduction of the Graduate Route post-study work visa and building on the region’s strengths in STEM, its strong job market, and diaspora.
Contact a sector expert
Our economic experts are here to help your organisation enter the UK market and help your direct investment grow, utilising all the assets the West Midlands has to offer.
See below to get in touch with International Markets Lead, Chris Lau.
