T’puram: UK is looking to increase imports of marine products and textiles from Kerala in the coming years, banking on the potential of Vizhinjam International Seaport, said UK deputy high commissioner Sutapa Choudhury.Choudhury said Kerala exports products worth Rs 40,000 crore annually to UK, with marine products accounting for the largest share. She said the focus was on promoting trade and investment under the free trade agreement between India and UK. Kerala has potential for cooperation in fisheries and marine products, spices, agriculture and food processing, information technology, textiles, engineering and manufacturing, healthcare and ayurveda, she said.Choudhury described the Vizhinjam port as a major opportunity, adding that the state ministers had highlighted its potential to strengthen trade ties.She added that 10 UK universities are planning to establish campuses in India, while one has already done so. Education was also discussed during her meeting with chief minister V D Satheesan.Referring to UK’s need for healthcare workers amid an ageing population, Choudhury said there was demand for a range of care professionals, including those specialising in geriatric care, beyond nursing. The issue was discussed during meetings with the ministers, she added.Dispelling concerns about negative sentiment towards Indians in UK, Choudhury said claims circulating on social media were untrue.“Violent crime is declining, and there is no evidence that Indians are being targeted. Trade between the two countries has increased, particularly after the free trade agreement,” she said.Choudhury said companies at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram offered opportunities for collaboration. Technologies such as 3-D imaging of the human body could aid postmortem, she said, adding that technology transfer was already taking place in the healthcare sector.UK is also seeking greater collaboration with Thiruvananthapuram’s business community. Direct air connectivity could be explored based on commercial viability, she added.S N Raghuchandran Nair, president of Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the chamber was committed to promoting trade and investment between Kerala and UK.
