(For related story see INDIA-BRITAIN or [ID:nL21213579]) Jan 21 (Reuters) - Gordon Brown met with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on Monday, on his first visit to India as Britain's prime minister. Here is an overview of past and present relations between the two countries. COLONIAL TIES -- Britain's East India Company arrived in India in the 17th century as a trade outpost. From the 18th to the mid-19th century the company extended its influence from trade to local administration and politics, effectively ruling India as a colony until the British Crown took over in 1858. INDEPENDENCE: -- India gained full independence in 1947, when it was divided into two separate states, India and Pakistan. It remained linked to the UK as a member of the Commonwealth. TRADE TIES: -- The UK is currently India's fourth largest trading partner. Bilateral trade was close to 8 billion pounds ($15.6 billion) in 2005. -- India is the UK's third largest foreign investor in terms of projects, rising by 111 percent in 2005-2006, according to the British High Commission. GROWTH: -- India's economy has been growing at nearly nine percent annually, about three times faster than the UK economy. -- Brown's visit, and trip last week to neighbour China, are seen as part of an attempt to strengthen ties with two of the world's most populous countries. CURRENT EXPORTS: -- Major UK exports to India include: non-metallic minerals, gold, telecommunications equipment, transport equipment and industrial machinery. -- UK imports from India include: textiles and readymade garments, gems and jewellery, footwear, metal manufactures, organic chemicals and vegetables and fruit. RECENT MERGERS: - Indian companies have recently become closely involved with several iconic British companies. India's Tata Steel Ltd bought Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus for 6.2 billion pounds in 2007. - In Jan 2008, Ford Motor Co chose sister company Tata Motors Ltd as front-runner to buy British vehicle makers Jaguar and Land Rover. - Britain's BAE Systems has been in talks since Jan 2008 with India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to set up a joint venture to manufacture Hawk training jets for world export. CO-OPERATION: -- The UK is the largest investor in the Indian oil and gas sector with investments in upwards of $4 billion. -- A joint economic and trade committee, JETCO, set up in 2005, is helping India and the UK identify ways to further boost bilateral trade and investment. AID: -- Brown kicked off his visit to India by pledging 825 million pounds in development aid to India over the next three years, with more than half to be spent on health and education. OTHER BILATERAL ISSUES: -- Cooperation against terrorism and recent unrest in Myanmar are also expected to be on the agenda for the talks. -- Brown has also said he will back India's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N Security Council. (1 pound=$1.95) Source: Reuters, British High Commission (http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename= OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1017170902405), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelera te/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1018 9 65323192) (Writing by Sulastri Osman, Singapore Editorial Reference Unit)
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (C) speaks as India's Trade Minister Kamal Nath (L) and India's Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal watch during the U.K. and India Entrepreneurs Summit in ...
