London Mayor hopes to capitalise
on Great Britain's appeal following successful Olympics and Diamond
Jubilee during five-day trip
The London Mayor, Boris Johnson, will spend the next
week in India in an attempt to promote closer business ties between the
English capital and the fast-growing nation.British politicians from all sides of the divide believe increasing trade on the sub-continent makes sense at a time of austerity.
On paper, India is a very exciting proposition at a time when growth in the UK is anaemic at best.
It is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, recording an average growth of about 8% a year over the last decade.
With a population of more than 1.2 billion, India is a huge potential market.
The nation is also very young - the average age is just 25 - meaning there are plenty of potential consumers.
But despite the attractive figures, there are pitfalls.
Many companies entering the Indian market are often overwhelmed by a chaotic business environment, bloated bureaucracy and corruption.
However, the Confederation of British Industry's adviser in India, Mark Runacres, says there is money to be made with the right business plan.
"Our business backyard in Europe is depressed. America is just beginning to emerge, and there are very few real growth markets - and India is one of them," he said.
Therefore, he added, "for British business at the moment it is a very significant place both for sales of their goods and services and investment".
The London Mayor will be visiting three cities in India - Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai - over the next five days.
As well as promoting London's business assets, Mr Johnson will also try to encourage more Indian students to attend the capital's universities.
