• Dr Vince Cable, British minister for Business, Innovation and Skills joins an elite gathering at the India Today Conclave 16-17 March. Dr Cable will show how the strong UK-India business partnership makes a substantial contribution to inclusive growth in both countries. British excellence will also resonate through art (original Damian Hirst prints) and food (gourmet chef Rob Rees).
• Dr Cable will promote the best of British enterprise at a GREAT business launch on 16 March. UK companies will showcase some of their more innovative products for an audience comprising India’s leading business managers. Upcoming British music artist Josh Kumra will lend colour to the event.
• Celebrity British chefs will woo Indian palates, hearts and minds by showcasing GREAT British food. Renowned British chef Rob Rees will, in Delhi:
- host a ‘Taste of Britain’ menu at the launch of the GREAT campaign at the India Today
Conclave Gala Dinner 17 March
- prepare a ‘Taste of Britain’ media preview lunch for influential journalists/food critics18 March
- host a five-course dinner for corporate clients/ patrons of the Orient Express, the award winning restaurant at Taj Palace, New Delhi, serving contemporary European cuisine 18 March
In Hyderabad, Chef Rees will host dinner at the exclusive Business Club - Chambers, Taj Krishna 19 March. In Bangalore, Chef Rees will prepare the menu for the Queen’s Birthday Party at the Taj Westend, Bangalore 20 March. Taj Westend is a former British hotel celebrating 125 years this year.
Another British gourmet chef Gary Rhodes comes to New Delhi mid-May for a week of exhibition cooking and media appearances.
• GREAT Photo Competition: Share with us your favourite shots of you/your family/friends/general public around GREAT banners/posters/billboards/taxis across India. A panel of judges will shortlist the best 3 photos which will be showcased on our website, Facebook and Twitter channels. More on: http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en/news/press-centre/MediaLibrary/Images/094Images-2012/GreatPhotoCompetition/
• Other events that have helped show the diversity of the British offer:
• GREAT British Sport Festival (February-April): We are hosting the GREAT British Sports Festival with an aim to inspire under-privileged children through sport. India’s gold medal winner, Abhinav Bindra, two leading ex-Olympians Prakash Padukone, Viren Rasquinha and British minister Jeremy Browne have participated. These events will culminate in an event 18 April in New Delhi, where we give Team India a send off, 100 days before the London 2012 Olympic Games. More detail: http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=PressR&id=737091082 & http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=PressR&id=740671482
• GREAT Music: The Royal Air Force (RAF) band has been playing a series of concerts in India at the generous invitation of the Indian Air Force (IAF). About 2,000 people watched a joint concert of the RAF and the IAF bands at the iconic India Gate 2 March. Watch RAF play famous Bollywood number Chammak Challo at the British High Commission: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ssTiOdDJhgg
NOTE TO EDITORS:
• THE GREAT CAMPAIGN uses the 2012 Olympic Games, Paralympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to showcase Britain’s capabilities, to enhance our reputation abroad and to maximise the economic potential of the Games. It centres on areas of British excellence focusing on Technology and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity, Knowledge, Green, Heritage, Sport, Shopping, Music and Countryside. More detail: http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en/visiting-uk/about-uk/GREAT/
• Read PM Cameron’s 11 March interview to CNN-IBN channel on:
http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=PressR&id=740767682
• Catch Bangalore kids sing the London 2012 Olympics song + other GREAT Sport Fest videos at http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en/news/press-centre/MediaLibrary/Videos/Videos2012/Jeremy-Browne-In-India
• For photographs of GREAT events across India visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/ukinindia/sets/72157629523570301/