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London / Mumbai, Dec 6: Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London will be opening two Mayoral offices in India – in Mumbai and Delhi — to help extend London's business and cultural links with India.
 
Hosting the annual Indian Business Reception with Think London, the foreign direct investment agency for the capital on Tuesday, the Mayor said that the business theme for the 2007 programme will be 'India, London – partners in globalisation'.
 
“India is not only one of the world's most important and rapidly growing economies — it is a rising superpower. It also has one of the world’s most important cultures,” said Livingstone, who has been repeatedly elected as Mayor of London. “London is the most multicultural city in the world and within it those of Indian origin are the single largest minority. With the arrival of more and more Indian companies India’s cultural impact on London is only going to increase further,” Livingstone told a large group of Indian businessmen at Somerset House in Central London.
 
The Mayor said: “India's rapidly expanding companies are seeking to globalize themselves. London is the world’s most global city. Both therefore have a vital interest in strengthening their links.” To this end Livingstone will personally be going to India next year to open two Mayoral offices.
 
Next summer London will see a three-month celebration of Indian culture including business events. This will culminate in an India-themed festival on Regent Street in September which is expected to attract up to half-a-million people. India will also be the theme of the annual cultural arts festival that takes place in Trafalgar Square each August.