Stones to help Indian investment roll into Britain

Wednesday, 02 April 2003, 20:30 IST
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BANGALORE: The Rolling Stones may be in this country primarily to make Indians rock `n' roll, but the legendary band is also helping attract Indian investment to their home Britain. When corporate high-flyers from around the country flock to the Bangalore Palace grounds Friday and the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai three days later, they would be entertained in specially erected lounges by InvestUK, Britain's national inward investment agency. "It's an opportunity to entertain businessmen in a different way instead of the standard receptions in hotels," Kelvin Green, second secretary, British Trade Office, Bangalore, told IANS. "A lot of them would be those who have already invested in the U.K. But there would be a lot more who we are expecting to have a drink with us and see a short promo film that shows how InvestUK has helped Indian investments in the U.K.," Green added. "It is recognition of the fact that music brings all sections together, particularly the corporate class. It's a great opportunity to interface. It's a British band and a good synergy," Venkat Vardhan, CEO, DNA Networks, the organisers of the two concerts, said. InvestUK is an event partner for the concert tour of India. "One hour before the show starts, we will be entertaining the corporate officials," said Green. India Inc. is the second largest investor from among Asian countries in Britain in terms of projects, with 17 projects launched in 2001-02. India accounts for 25 percent of the 128 new projects in Britain. Many of them are using Britain as the headquarters for their European operations, the trade office said. About 350 Indian companies have set up operations in Britain and nearly 275 are from the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. The remaining companies cover several sectors of industry. The outstation bookings for the Rolling Stones concerts in both Bangalore and Mumbai have been significant as in the past when DNA Networks brought bands and artists like Deep Purple, Bryan Adams, Scorpions and Sir Elton John to meet what Vardhan calls the "great appetite that Indians have for such music". Interestingly, the outstation bookings have attracted admirers of the Rolling Stones from southern India to Bangalore and from the northern states to Mumbai.
Source: IANS
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