Moderator: Uday Nagaraju, Co-Founder & Executive President, Global Policy Insights Panelists:

Tamil Nadu

• Sri Eddapadi Palaniswami, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
• Dr Vijay Bhaskar, Health Minister of Tamil Nadu
• Dr Beela Rajesh, IAS Health Secretary of Tamil Nadu
• Sai Kumar, IAS Principal Secretary of Tamil Nadu

United Kingdom

• Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor of London for Business
• Richard Harrington MP, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Industry
• Baroness Sandip Verma, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development
• Lord Karan Bilimoria, Vice President Confederation of British Industry
• Virendra Sharma MP, Chairman Indo British All Party Parliamentary Group

Commonwealth

• Dr Patsy Robertson, Chair, Ramphall Institute

Academia

• Professor Jonathan Portes, Lecturer in Public Policy, Kings College London
• Professor Kevin Ibeh, Pro Vice Master (International) Birkbeck, University of London

UK India Program

In the crucial days leading up to Britain’s exit from the European Union and Britain’s changing global positioning, enhanced bi-lateral relations with other countries is of paramount importance. Focus on networks and markets of Commonwealth could work well to UK’s advantage. There is also talk of a revived Commonwealth with enormous economic and political potential. This revived Commonwealth could also be partially attributed to a rising India, home to more than half of Commonwealth’s population.

Global Policy Insights realizes the significance and potential of UK India relations in the context of Brexit and a revived Commonwealth. As part of UK India Program, we carry out research and facilitate the strengthening of UK India partnership by discussions and collaborations.

The UK and India enjoy a unique relationship that encompasses a shared history, heritage and language; therefore, it came as no surprise that India is predicted to play a significant role in the post-Brexit UK agenda. Tamil Nadu state with a population of 72 million, also the second largest state economy in India with a GSDP of 230 billion USD presents unique opportunities for trade. The UK and India. have a valuable trading relationship with numerous UK companies setting up in Tamil Nadu and India being the fourth largest source of FDI projects. Brexit presents with unique opportunities to further boost investment opportunities and trade.

With this in mind, Global Policy Insights organized a panel discussion with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Sri Eddapadi Palaniswami not only to boost the already strong relationship between India and the UK but also to explore opportunities between the UK and Tamil Nadu in particular. The session was moderated by Uday Nagaraju, Executive President of Global Policy Insights.

In line with our UK-India and Commonwealth Projects, GPI has been working tirelessly to facilitate innovative industry collaborations across the Commonwealth. The overall theme of the seminar focused around stressing the importance and great potential for strengthened relations between the UK and Tamil Nadu. Mr. Uday Nagaraju, after introducing the seminar, emphasised on the huge potential of UK India partnership post Brexit and revival of The Commonwealth.

Mr. Virendra Sharma praised the collaborative effort of parliamentarians both in the UK and India, keen to utilize the various opportunities available in Tamil Nadu and subsequently in the UK post Brexit.

The Chief Minister Sri Eddapadi Palaniswami of Tamil Nadu stressed the eminence of the Tamil healthcare system, whilst mentioning how important affordable healthcare is to him, the minister also praised the strong partnership in healthcare between the UK and Tamil Nadu where Tamil professionals have been contributing positively for many years. Brexit provides us with the perfect opportunity to reinforce this relationship and find new pathways for partnerships.

Continuing the discussion around health care, the panel heard from, Dr Vijay Bhaskar, Health Minister of the Government of Tamil Nadu who put forth ideas of alternative partnerships in healthcare and the medical field. He reinforced the idea of joint public health initiatives and the potential for collaborations between the London School of Hygiene and Tamil Nadu in treating malaria and dengue. He also outlined the high-profile research being carried out in Tamil Nadu in areas of organ transplantation.

This was further followed by a presentation by the principal secretary of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Beela Rajesh which focused not only on strengthening the current relationship but also stressed the wide potential for further trade and investment into Tamil Nadu.

The panel also heard from Rajesh Agarwal, Deputy Mayor of London who stressed the openness and keenness of London not only to explore collaborations but be a friend to the state of Tamil Nadu. As London’s third largest trading partner, India should take advantage of the booming technology market. Baroness Sandip Verma echoed the deputy mayor, however she also made it a point to stress that one should look beyond London into the midlands of the UK where all the industry is based.

The panel also heard from distinguished leaders and policymakers such as Richard Harrington MP who spoke about the deregulation of trade policy, post-Brexit. Lord Billimoria echoed the sentiments of Baroness Sandip Verma whilst also mentioning the University of Birmingham as a partner for educational collaborations.

Professor Jonathan Potres of Kings College London, mentioned the increase of skilled workers willing to work in industry, however he mentioned visa constrains often hinder this process.

Patsy Robertson, Chair of the Ramphal Institute brought the conversation home by reminding the panel that post-Brexit the focus should not plainly lie on UK-India relations but as understanding the Commonwealth as a family network.

The discussion was concluded with Tamil Nadu government felicitating Global Policy Insights for organizing the event and key speakers for their valuable inputs. This discussion provides opportunities for industry experts and policymakers to get together and share ideas and insights in their respective fields and discuss the potential for forming close ties and partnerships between the UK and Tamil Nadu and by extension India. The discussion ranging from industrial opportunities to healthcare considerations, the Commonwealth and immigration policy. This seminar showed the bright future of UK India relations and provides a platform for further enhancements and concrete partnerships.

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