UK's Finance Minister George Osborne in conversation with NDTV's anchor Shweta Rajpal Kohli
New Delhi:
With a mission to strengthen the 'bilateral trade' ties with India, Finance Minister George Osborne accompanied by Foreign Secretary William Hague is in New Delhi to meet with the Narendra Modi government.
"India is embarking on an exciting journey of reform under your new government," Osborne told business leaders in India's financial hub, assuring them there was "no more reliable partner" on that journey than Britain.
The British pair is expected to hold talks with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley among others today before meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Highlights of his conversation with NDTV:
On retrospective tax changes and the Vodafone case
Retrospective tax changes sent a very bad signal to investors all over the world
Previous government saw how retrospective changes impacted sentiment
Investors felt India's investment climate was unfavourable
Retrospective tax changes led to feeling that India not firing on all cylinders
In last 7 weeks, real sense that India is firing on all cylinders
Don't want to tell any country how to manage their tax affairs
Hope exciting future PM Modi has mapped out is followed through in the Budget
Minister Jaitley has his PM standing beside him, want Britain also to stand with India
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's image and its economy
Real excitement and buzz around PM Modi
To borrow one of PM Modi's phrases 'achhe din here' for Britain-India relations
Seeing excitement around Indian economy, took the decision to get on the plane to meet Mr Modi
Britain to launch billion pound export finance line of credit for British firms to do business in India
On Rafale vs Eurofighter
Previous govt chose France as preferred partner
If current govt wants to change, we will talk to them
Hoping to strike defence deals in the future
On Tesco's plans and Multi-brand retail
Don't want to second guess that the govt will reverse policy
Don't want to pick on specific issues, general atmosphere is positive
On Mahatama Gandhi's statue in front of the British Parliament
Mahatma Gandhi is an inspiration for the whole world
Father of world's largest democracy should find his place before Mother of Parliament