Press release

Minister for Asia Mark Field visits New Delhi and Mumbai

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, visited India from 1 to 3 March to further strengthen UK-India relations.

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government
Mark Field giving a speech at the Fintegrate Zone conference in Mumbai

In New Delhi, he met Indian Foreign Secretary, Vijay Gokhale, to discuss tensions between India and Pakistan.

Speaking after the meeting, Mark Field said:

I am delighted to be here in India to build on strong ties with a key partner. I was pleased to meet Indian Foreign Secretary Gokhale at a difficult time in regional relations between India and Pakistan. I repeated that the UK stood shoulder-to-shoulder with India in condemnation of the appalling terror attack in Pulwama.

I expressed the UK鈥檚 concern about the current tensions, discussed the importance of creating greater regional stability, including the urgent need to tackle terrorism, and encouraged both sides to come together to look for a peaceful diplomatic solution.

While in New Delhi, he also spoke at the Indian Foreign Service Institute highlighting the strength of the UK-India relationship, the UK鈥檚 place in the world post-Brexit and the strengthening of the UK鈥檚 Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

After New Delhi the Minister visited Mumbai where he met young entrepreneurs at the 鈥楩integrate Zone鈥� conference to further the UK鈥檚 position as a world leader in FinTech and position the UK as India鈥檚 partner of choice in raising finance. Among other engagements in Mumbai, he attended a multi-million pound UK-India life sciences deal signing; promoted UK-India sports links in the run up to the 2019 Cricket World Cup; and interacted with Indian youth leaders and Chevening alumni.

Further information

The Indian Foreign Service Institute trains Indian Foreign Service officers and provides courses for foreign diplomats.

UK is one of the organising partners of the 鈥楩integrate Zone鈥� conference, alongside the Government of Maharashtra. The conclave is organised by Zone Startups, India, a leading FinTech accelerator in Mumbai. It is India鈥檚 largest FinTech conclave.

Media

For media queries, please contact:

Sally Hedley, Head of Communications
Press and Communications, British High Commission,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
Tel: 24192100; Fax: 24192400

Mail to: Asad Mirza

Follow us on , , , , Blogs, ,

Updates to this page

Published 4 March 2019