Britain has 1.5 million persons of Indian origin and that strengthens our ties, he said, adding his 100-member business delegation comprises Indian businesses and parliamentarians of Indian origin.
The business relationship between the two nations is already strong with Britain being the biggest European investor here, said Cameron, adding half of Indian investments in Europe is in UK.
“We see the power and the growth of your economy and we see amazing opportunities. For instance, I am looking to speak to your government whether we can open a new corridor between Mumbai and Bangalore of growing towns and development and working around that with you,” he said.
The British Prime Minister said he wanted his country's companies to help India develop new cities and districts along a 1,000 km corridor between Mumbai and Bangalore, generating investment projects worth up to $25 billion.
Cameron said he wanted British firms to work with the Indian and British governments to develop nine districts to link Mumbai, India's financial capital, with Bangalore, its technology hub.
“With me I've got architects, planners and finance experts who can work out the complete solution,” he said.
“It would unleash India's potential along the 1,000 km stretch from Mumbai to Bangalore, transforming lives and putting British businesses in prime position to secure valuable commercial deals.”
On the issue of Indian students in Britain, he said there is no limit on the number of Indian students who can come and study in universities there and also no cap on the length of time they can stay and work.
The British premier said there was great excitement in his country over the fact that India is planning to add 40 million seats in its universities.
“We are also excited that you are going to double your spending on health as share of your GDP and we want to help you provide those services as well,” he said.
Pitching for highly aggressive forms of tax avoidance to be regarded as similar to illegal tax evasion, Cameron asked businesses to pay their due share of tax.
“Taxation is a part of the cost of doing business... I think the lesson for business should be, if we are cutting this rate of tax down to low levels, you should be paying that rate of tax rather than seeking ever more aggressive ways to avoid it,” he said.
