Invest·UK is the UK Government's national inward investment agency. Its aim is to attract, retain and add value to inward investment by communicating the benefits of the UK as the first choice in Europe for potential investors. One in three companies moving to Europe choose to invest in the UK. Over 441 India based companies have already invested in the UK, of which 338 are in the ICT sector.

Invest·UK provides a single source of information and advice to all investors regardless of their size or the nature of their business. It assists the world's companies to establish or expand business from a base in the UK, quickly and smoothly. Invest. UK's services are free and confidential.



Invest·UK can:
- save you valuable management time and costs

By providing advice on:
- the advantages of a UK location within the European Union
- how to set up an operation in the UK
- UK visit programmes
- tailored site location searches and site visits
- local, regional and national incentives
- labour availability and costs
- work permits, tariffs and taxes
- EU market information and rules

Invest·UK has over 20 years of experience of assisting overseas companies in the UK, during which time it has helped over 5,000 companies to set up and expand. Invest·UK was formally known as the Invest in Britain Bureau.



Setting up in the UK is straightforward. The UK Government actively supports inward investment and ensures that subsidiaries of overseas companies receive the same treatment as UK-owned companies. Red tape is kept to a minimum and there are no constraints on the repatriation of profits or limitations on borrowing.

Over 25,000 overseas companies have operations in Britain. They are taking advantage of a pro-business environment that is designed to improve their efficiency and competitiveness. The advantages of locating in the UK include:
- English, the language of Business - plus a large pool of other linguists - Being part of the single European market - Low corporate and personal tax rates - A skilled and adaptable work force - Europe's leading communications market - Low cost utilities - Excellent logistical links and to export markets - London, Europe's financial centre - World-class research and development (R&D) collaboration

The UK has a dynamic, open and competitive market economy that welcomes overseas business.



The UK attracts some 60% of Indian investment into Europe. Increasingly this investment is in the knowledge-driven economy. The IT/Software sector currently accounts for half of all investment from India into the UK.

Indian investors state they are attracted to the UK's pro-business, low tax environment and position as the gateway to the European market. They also cite the UK's position as Europe's largest e-commerce market, the UK's wealth of research and development facilities, the UK's world-leading telecommunications infrastructure, the English language and the position of London as Europe's business capital as further drivers behind their investment decisions.

It is not surprising that India's largest conglomerates also recognise these strengths and are choosing the UK as the headquarters for their European operations.


The above information includes only those projects that involved or which have come to the attention of Invest . UK and its regional partners. There is no requirement to notify Invest . UK when reproducing this information. Source: Invest . UK, March 2001.

For more information on Invest·UK services in India please contact:

Northern Region: (Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh).

       Anupam Jhunjhunwala, British High Commission, New Delhi
       E-mail : comenq.newdelhi@fco.gov.uk

Western Region: (Goa, Gujarat, Madyha Pradesh, Maharashtra)

       Steve Firstbrook, British Deputy High Commission, Mumbai
       E-mail : bdhc@vsnl.com

Eastern Region: (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal)

       Sudipto Sen, British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata
       E-mail : bdhccalc@giasd01.vsnl.net.in

Southern Region: (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu)

       Kelvin Green, British Trade Office, Bangalore
       E-mail : BTO.Bangalore@fco.gov.uk

Further information about Invest·UK and its services can be accessed at:

www.invest.uk.com