News from London Assembly Labour

Anger after Boris admits London is closed for business in India

In response to questions by Labour Member of the London Assembly Murad Qureshi, Mayor Boris Johnson has admitted that the London Development Agency’s offices in India, established by his predecessor Ken Livingstone to promote London’s interests in one of the world’s most important developing economies, are no longer functioning.

According to the Mayor, “the LDA’s representatives in Mumbai and Delhi resigned last year and have not yet been replaced”, pending a review that will decide whether the offices should be reopened.

Murad Qureshi AM said: “It is quite disgraceful that the closure of the GLA’s offices in India has been carried out by the back door, without Londoners being informed about the decision to mothball them.

“Developing economies like India’s have grown in global importance due to their having escaped the worst consequences of the recession. It is vital that London’s businesses are properly represented there.”

Murad added: “The Mayor has already conducted a review of the GLA’s international offices. It found that ‘the rationale for London to have offices in key emerging markets is fundamentally sound’ and that they ‘do play an important role in promoting London’s interests, from supporting the capital’s businesses to enhancing the image of our city around the world’.

“The Mayor’s decision to ignore the findings of his own review and allow the Mumbai and Delhi offices to close is utterly irresponsible.”

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