Scotland's Economy

Forging business links with India

October 15, 2013 by Humza Yousaf, Minister for External Affairs and International Development No Comments | Category Investment

It’s hard to believe it is just a few days since I left the carnival atmosphere at Glasgow Airport to join the Queen’s Baton as we both made our way to New Delhi.

While the baton left India within just a couple of days to continue on its historic journey around the Commonwealth, I remained in India – taking the opportunity to build and strengthen Scotland’s business, tourism, education, cultural and diplomatic links with the country.

I have been proud to represent Scotland in a range of engagements with businesses, entrepreneurs and existing and potential investors, and to announce a number of new collaborations between our two nations.

Today at a ceremony in Mumbai I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of Edinburgh-based Dryden Aqua who will work with Indian firm SVS Aqua on the new Eco-India project, to deploy its innovative water cleaning technology across remote parts of India, where more than 250 million people are exposed to water that is not in compliance with WHO World Health Standards.

Dryden Aqua’s Activated Filter Media is already being used in Bangladesh and some parts of India for drinking water as well as waste water and industrial applications.  The Eco-India project will see its technology systems deployed at pilot sites in arsenic-affected water-stressed regions in India.  I’m proud that while it’s big business, it’s also responsible business and something that has potential to save lives.

The news comes at the same time as the small family-owned company This-tel, based in Braco near Dunblane,  enters into a new distribution agreement with Indian-based IT company Crane Global Solutions Ltd for its digital pen and forms products. The technology will initially be sold into the Indian healthcare sector, generating £4.6 million of additional sales for the Scottish company and allowing it to expand into the fast growing Indian market.

Finally, two days ago I was present for some exciting news for the Kingdom of Fife.

The Kyndal group have entered into a joint venture with John Fergus & Co Ltd, to establish a new malt distillery and bonded warehouse in Glenrothes. With the facility expected to be operational by 2015, the project will focus on exporting to markets in India, Africa and the Far East and is expected to bring 15 new jobs and to generate new exports worth a predicted £3.6m to Scotland over the next three years.

I am very proud of what each of these partnerships highlights – that Scotland and India are working together to embrace and promote innovation and demonstrating a shared commitment to leading the field in technology, development and research.

These new business partnerships will benefit both Scotland and India, promote joint business ventures and pave the way for Scotland to expand trade and co-operation in future years with a special country with big ambitions and a growing economy.  It has been a great honour to play my part in further strengthening the firm friendship between our two countries.

Tags: Commonwealth, Eco-India project, Fife, Glenrothes, India, New Delhi, World Health Standards

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