Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
London
London emerged as the top choice for Indian investors ahead of other cities such as Dubai and Singapore, with investments by Indian companies in the British capital reaching an all-time high last year, according to a new analysis.
The UK emerged as the topmost country to attract Indian FDI with 52 projects, ahead of the US (51) and the UAE (32), in 2018, said London & Partners (L&P), the Mayor of London’s promotional agency, in the new analysis released here on Friday.
Indian companies choosing to invest and expand in London reached an all-time high last year, with 32 investment projects–a giant leap from the previous year, it said.
“Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from India into London increased by 255 per cent from 2017 to 2018. And, investment into the UK from India grew by over 100 per cent compared with the previous year, with London accounting for over 60 per cent of all Indian investment into the UK in 2018,” notes the analysis, based on fDi Markets and fDi Intelligence data.
“We’re delighted that a record number of Indian businesses have chosen London as a base for their international expansion and we look forward to welcoming more ambitious companies to our city,” said Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, who will be leading a four-day trade mission to India from Monday.
“Our upcoming trade mission will provide a great opportunity for us to explore how London can increase collaboration with some of India’s leading business hubs in areas such as fintech and enterprise technology,” she said.
The L&P’s trade delegation, comprising some of London’s fastest growing fintech and enterprise tech companies, will cover Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai as part of the Mayor of London’s International Business Programme.
“India and London share strengths in financial services and technology, making India a natural market for our international growth,” said Emma Steeley, CEO of AccountScore, one of the companies participating in the trade mission next week.
The data analytics firm, which has an office in Mumbai and customers across India, said it would be scouting for new opportunities to explore collaborations and meet stakeholders in some of India’s fast-growing fintech hubs.
Nadia Sood, Founder and CEO of Credit Enable, another participating company, added: “India is bubbling over with opportunity, promise and above all, entrepreneurial talent.
“But while there is ample supply and demand for finance, there is far too little connectivity between the two. Instead, a dysfunctional credit market means SMEs are borrowing informally at 30 per cent interest. This represents an unparalleled opportunity for financial institutions to lend to them far more competitively.”
In India, Credit Enable will be announcing the launch of a pan-Indian initiative called the Changemakers Programme together with its partner CAIT, the Confederation of All India Traders. The programme is pegged as the largest mobilisation initiative ever attempted to help secure affordable credit for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
