Page 8 - The Indian EYE 042922

NATION APRIL 29, 2022 | The Indian Eye 8

Johnson packs trade, Ukraine and

spirituality in a crucial trip to India

Johnson to drive progress in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations launched earlier

this year as a deal with India is predicted to boost UK’s total trade

OUR BUREAU cialists Qure-ai to open a Centre of
Excellence in the UK,” the BHC
Ahmedabad/New Delhi
statement said.
ritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson also visited Akshardham
Johnson arrived on a two-day Temple in Gandhinagar. The Brit-
Bofficial India visit to India on ish PM was accompanied by Gujarat
Thursday. He landed in Gujarat and Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel,
was accorded a grand welcome at the High Commissioner of UK to India,
airport in Ahmedabad. On Thursday, HE Alex Ellis.
he met billionaire businessman Gau- Earlier in the day, Johnson visit-
tam Adani at Adani global headquar- ed Sabarmati Ashram, where he ex-
ters. Adani Group Chairman Gautam pressed his amazement at the simple
Adani informed about the meeting in principles of truth and non-violence
a tweet. “Honoured to host @Boris- advocated by Mahatma Gandhi that
Johnson, the first UK PM to visit changed the world for the better. He
Gujarat, at Adani HQ. Delighted to expressed his amazement at the sim-
support climate & sustainability agen- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Akshardham Temple, in Gandhinagar. (ANI Photo) ple principles of truth and non-vio-
da with focus on renewables, green lence advocated by Mahatma Gandhi
H2 & new energy. Will also work with that changed the world for the better.
UK companies to co-create defense Writing a message in the visitor’s
& aerospace technologies,” Adani book at the Ashram, Johnson said,
tweeted. “It is an immense privilege to come
Johnson will announce a slew of to the Ashram of this extraordinary
commercial agreements and hold bi- man, and to understand how he mo-
lateral discussions with a focus on the bilized such simple principles of truth
UK and India’s trade, investment and and non-violence to change the world
technology partnership. The British for the better.”
High Commission (BHC), in a state- Boris Johnson reached Delhi
ment, said Johnson will use his visit to late Thursday, where Union Minister
India to boost “our collaboration with Rajeev Chandrasekhar received him
one of the world’s fastest-growing at the Airport. On Friday morning,
economies, slashing trade barriers for Johnson attended a ceremonial re-
UK businesses and driving jobs and ception at Rashtrapati Bhawan and
growth at home”. later a wreath-laying at the Samadhi
The UK and Indian businesses of Mahatma Gandhi.
will confirm more than £1 billion in The UK Prime Minister also held
new investments and export deals to- talks with External Affairs Minister
day in areas from software engineer- (EAM) S Jaishankar. According to a
ing to health, creating almost 11,000 Boris Johnson meets Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group during his visit to Adani HQ, in statement by British High Commis-
jobs across the UK, added the BHC Ahmedabad on Thursday. (ANI Photo/Gautam Adani Twitter) sion, Johnson will use the visit to drive
in the statement. progress in the Free Trade Agree-
The deals also include business today, I see vast possibilities for what Gujarat, as well as a biotechnology ment (FTA) negotiations launched
consultancy FirstSource opening our two great nations can achieve university working in collaboration earlier this year as a deal with India
new offices in South Wales, the Mid- together. From next-generation 5G with the University of Edinburgh. is predicted to boost UK’s total trade
lands and cities in the North-East and telecoms and AI to new partnerships “The UK will confirm major new by up to 28 billion pounds annually by
North-West, Hertfordshire-based firm in health research and renewable en- science and tech collaboration, in- 2035 and increase incomes across the
Smith & Nephew agreeing for a major ergy - the UK and India are leading cluding a Digital Health partnership UK by up to 3 billion pounds.
export deal to sell robotic surgical sys- the world.” and a joint investment fund for Indian Last year, Johnson and PM Modi
tems in India, and Northamptonshire “Our powerhouse partnership is deep-tech and AI start-ups, supported agreed on a UK-India Comprehen-
business Scott Bader opening a new delivering jobs, growth and opportu- by the UK and Indian governments; sive Strategic Partnership, announcing
resins factory to supply top renewable nities for our people, and it will only new AI scholarships for Indian stu- more than 530 million pounds in in-
energy companies in south-east Asia, go from strength-to-strength in the dents jointly funded by the UK Gov- vestment into the UK and committing
stated the BHC. coming years,” he added. ernment’s Chevening programme to a deeper bilateral relationship across
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit a new factory and India’s Adani Group; and a £6m trade, health, climate, defense and se-
Johnson said: “As I arrive in India being opened by a top British firm in investment from AI healthcare spe- curity, and connecting our people.

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