London: British Prime Minister Theresa May's upcoming visit to India will offer a new opportunity to further strengthen the "already strong" bilateral ties and promote trade and investment, Chancellor of Exchequer Philip Hammond has said.
"As we prepare for the visit of Prime Minister (May) to India, Britain-India relations are already strong, with (Narendra) Modi as Prime Minister giving new opportunities for further strengthening these relations," Hammond, the Special Guest at the Diwali reception organised by the Hinduja family, said here on Wednesday.
"In this NRIs can play the role of more than a bridge. They can help promote trade and investment and growing cultural relations," he said.
It was no co-incidence that this is her first visit outside the European continent," Hammond said, adding that the meeting between the prime ministers of the world's oldest and largest democracies assumes importance.
May, 60, will be in India between November 6 and 8 on the invitation of Modi. It will be her first bilateral visit outside Europe during which she will hold talks with Modi and review all aspects of the India-UK strategic partnership post-Brexit.
He also read out May's letter to G P Hinduja, Co-Chairman of the Hinduja Group, expressing her Diwali wishes.
In the message, May said she would be proud to "highlight the achievements of British-Indians next month when I make my first official visit to India as Prime Minister at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrating the relations between our countries and our shared ambitions for the future".
G P Hinduja hoped May's discussions with Modi would give a further boost to Indo-British bilateral trade and investment. Describing NRIs as "Natural Resources of India", Hinduja said "We can really be a good bridge to do better business and be a great help to enhance ties between the two countries".
He said that "because of the current uncertainties (following the Brexit vote), many Non-Doms (Non-Domicile Business leaders) are disappearing".
In her introductory remarks, Baroness Sandy Varma, referring to May's visit, said "the Prime Minister wants to ensure that the relationship between the two countries is further cemented - business relations and personal relations".
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