Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne on Wednesday rang the bell to start trading at Asia's oldest bourse - the Bombay Stock Exchange -- with the hope of starting a new partnership with India.
"This is the beginning of a new relationship," Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom, George Osborne, told reporters after kicking-off trading at the BSE in Mumbai.
"It is a historic day as I am opening (the trading at) Asia's oldest bourse -- Bombay Stock Exchange," Osborne said.
"Britain once again wants to build a new relationship with India which could change the landscape of rural India. We are here to forge a new economic and cultural partnership. We are here to declare Britain open for business with you," Osborne said.
Osborne is in India along with Prime Minister David Cameron and a host of other ministers and senior businessmen.
"India is progressing in every aspect. We want to attract India's dynamic and innovative entrepreneurs to our kingdom," he said, adding the "country has a huge opportunity for our financial and manufacturing companies."
Osborne invited Indian bankers to be listed in the UK and set up their branches and start operations.
"We will provide licences to banks to start operations in the UK and will give more opportunity to be listed there," he said.
"British legal firms and business houses can help India finance its infrastructure needs and bring technology to help rural India," he said.
