Sir James Bevan, British High Commissioner to India, will lead a 25-member delegation to the Emerging Kerala event in Kochi.
Sir James will speak at the UK Country Session on September 12, a spokesperson for the High Commission said.
Ahead of his visit to Kerala, Sir James said: “We are bringing our largest-ever business delegation to Kerala, further evidence of the wider, stronger, deeper partnership between the UK and India.
“Last year, India-UK bilateral trade grew 26 per cent. UK exports to India grew 29 per cent. India has become the fifth largest investor in the UK and the UK is the third largest investor in India.”
Sir James congratulated Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on ‘Emerging Kerala’ and said that he looked forward to a successful event.
The UK business delegation visiting next week includes London & Partners, Balfour Beatty, Happold Consulting, NHS Global, ARM, Wardray Premise, Silver Streak Consultants, City & Guilds, The Converging World, BMT Group, SERCO and Mott MacDonald.
Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, said: “I am delighted that the UK education, healthcare, infrastructure and technology firms will be part of our delegation.
“Our business engagement with Kerala is long-standing. Over the last three years we have had business outreach events in both Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.”
He said that just last month the teams spoke to companies at sessions in Kochi hosted by the Infopark and StartUp Village and had meetings with CII Yi, the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and CREDAI to explore mutually beneficial business opportunities.
“I encourage Indian companies who will be in Kochi next week to visit the UK stall at Pavilion 9 at the Le Meridien Convention Centre.
I also invite Indian companies to the UK Country Session on September 12,” Nithavrianakis said.