New British Deputy Commission opened in Bangalore

 
"The commission would cover a whole range of British government activity in the state, including business, trade, investment and science and technology," British Deputy High Commissioner Richard Hyde said.

BDHC was formally inaugurated by Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj, who recalled India's historic ties with Britain and stressed the need for strengthening the relationship.

Hyde said the British High Commission has had a presence here for 15 years, establishing
the British Trade Office in 1994 and developing a strong commercial relationship.

"But the wider political, economical, cultural, academic, science and technology communities in Karnataka are key to Britain's relationship with India", Hyde said.

He said that in the coming months BDHC will focus increasingly on engaging with many of these groups not just in Bangalore but across the State.

Meanwhile, officials indicated that the Indo-UK bilateral trade (goods and services) which clocked British Pound 10 billion in the calendar year 2008, may see a decline this year, in tune with the global recession.

"It's been a very difficult year for everybody. From first of April, we have seen it's pretty tough. If we can maintain (the bilateral volume of last year), we would be happy with that. In the current market environment, anything is an achievement. But we want to increase," Hyde said.