|
Speaking in Bangalore, Mr Alexander said: "To help attract the best business people to the UK, the Government has introduced simplified procedures for work permit holders, quick processing times and extended the maximum period of validity to five years. On 1 November we introduced multiple entry permits to enable IT and other skilled workers to travel frequently to the UK on the same work permit. We are encouraging innovators and entrepreneurs to set up in the UK by lowering barriers. All you need nowadays is a good idea and a good business plan."
"The UK today is a diverse and enterprising nation. We have learned that welcoming new ideas and investment from overseas has strengthened our position in the world and brought significant rewards to those who make a commitment to Britain. Should you wish to become a part of that success, you would be most welcome.
| "All you need nowadays is a good idea and a good business plan" | | Douglas Alexander, Minister for e-commerce, addressing Indian IT workers and representatives of the industry in Bangalore |
"We offer you:
- One of the most advanced and deregulated telecoms structures in the world;
- One of the world's most developed e-business environments
- A thriving indigenous software industry
- A skilled workforce with a wide range of linguistic skills
- A sector in whch there are skill shortages throughout Europe, with compensation by way of some of the lowest tax and social costs in the EU.
"Businesses in the UK are increasing their use of e-commerce and companies in every region are harnessing technology to improve their performance.
- 80 per cent of UK businesses have a website, an increase from 66 per cent last year;
- 87 per cent of business is 'online'- up 81 per cent in 2000
- 1.9 million small and medium sized enterprises are online, exceeding the Government target of 1.5 million by 2002
- There has been a 20 per cent increase in business trading online from 2000, with more than half a million companies, working towards the target of one million by 2002.
- The UK has moved up to third place in the world for the amount of micro and small businesses that are connected, and for the number of these companies that trade online.
"One of my responsibilities as the UK Minister for e-commerce is to ensure that the UK maintains its place as a global player in the software, computer services and IT sector. That increasingly means attracting high value added investment into the sector and encouraging British companies to work more and more closely with their overseas counterparts. Having had my impressions of the strengths and capabilities of India's ICT sector reinforced by the meetings that I have had here, I need no further convincing that British and Indian companies must therefore be working together to mutual benefit.
"For with international ambitions, the UK has emerged as a key territory for IT investment because British businesses have understood and embraced the fact that investment in technology spending is a crucial issue of competitive importance. It understands that IT is the enabling technology of just about all other developments in all other sectors. The appropriate application of IT can have a transformative effect on business processes and productivity.
"Growth in the IT market in Britain has consistently outperformed European average growth rates. The European Software and Computer Services sector currently accounts for nearly a quarter of the world market. And it is growing faster than the US and Japan. It grew by 10.8 per cent to 125 billion US dollars in 2000. It is estimated that the market will be worth 210 billion US dollars by 2004. This is impressive growth by any standards. But within the region, the UK's performance shines out. The UK experienced 9.5 per cent growth in 2000 and it is predicted that growth will average 11 per cent from 2001-2004.
"Britain now spends the fourth largest proportion of GDP on IT in the world and we are fast closing in on Germany - with its population of 80 million people - as the largest market for IT in Europe. These facts underline the fact that the UK IT sector is strong, diverse and dynamic.
"Britain's track record in attracting inward investment into the sector is already one that we can be proud of. Microsoft's first overseas R&D facility outside the US is in Britain, and IBM have 20,000 employees in Britain engaged in manufacturing, service provision and R&D. The list of major Indian IT companies with a presence in the UK is growing - for example Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys. Small and medium-sized companies, as well as these major international players, also have an important role to play in the UK. I can assure you that Indian companies wishing to invest in the UK to tackle the UK, European or global markets will be more than welcome."
The number of work permits approved in the last 12 months for Indian nationals seeking employment in the Information Technology industry was 16,575.
David Blunkett, Home Secretary, is expected to announce further details of a new 'green card' immigration scheme to replace the previous fast-track visa system within the next few months.
--
Richard Powell, Shout99
|
