Birmingham City Council Leader Mr Mike Whitby said the city was committed to fostering trade with India at an event attended by attended by officials of the Commonwealth Business Club India (CBCI) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

 

He said: "The CBCI and FICCI launch underpins the strong economic relationship between Birmingham and India.

 

"We are keen to further establish our strong business links through the Commonwealth Games.

 

"As a global city with a local heart, we are committed to fostering trade with India and today's event will help build more bridges to deliver that."

 

In a message, Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the CBCI and the organising committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, said the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 would help showcase the immense opportunities India offers the Commonwealth’s business community.
 

He said: "India and the United Kingdom should aim at doubling the level of bilateral trade as well as investment within three to five years.

 

"It has been our endeavour to create a networking environment for business leaders of the Commonwealth.

 

"We want to develop greater awareness of India’s multifaceted tourist attractions and investment opportunities."

Tribhuvan Shanker Darbari , the joint director general of Delhi 2010, said the CBCI would help India harness its potential to become a major catalyst in projecting the country's image and attracting co-operation in key areas like information technology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, higher education, skills, environment, advance and high technologies.

He said: "The focus of Indian businesses has turned to the world in search of new markets to explore and to develop growth opportunities and the 2010 Commonwealth Games’ in Delhi. India’s global presence is visible, emerging as a sporting, political and an economic giant."

The Commonwealth Games Impact Study indicates that there has been a tangible economic impact for countries in the past decade hosting the event.

 

Manchester 2002 resulted in a GDP of $340 million (£205 million) and for Melbourne in 2006 it was $160 million (£96.5 million).

 

Delhi 2010 is projected at $494 million (£298 million) and it is also estimated that India will generate 2.47 million job opportunities from 2008 to 2012 as a result of staging the Games, larger than Manchester and Melbourne.
 

The CBCI and FICCI will be holding Business-to-Business and Government-to-Business sessions in 13 cities as the Queen's Baton Relay travels round the world.

 

The others are scheduled to be held in Glasgow (November 30), Larnaca (December 4), Toronto (April 14), Montreal (April 16), Melbourne (April 20), the Gold Coast (April 21), Auckland, New Zealand (May 17), Singapore (June 7) and Kuala Lumpur (June 12).