Scotland’s International Framework India Engagement Strategy

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Introduction

Why India?

With a population expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2025[1], India is the world’s largest democracy and one of its future leading powers. It is a country which has seen significant urbanisation, social change and economic growth in recent years.

India has an unrivalled youth demographic, with 65% of the population 35 or under.[2] It is estimated that by 2030, one quarter of the global labour force will be Indian.[3] India’s spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship, young ambitious workforce and digital agenda will ensure that the country continues to move at a fast pace.

As we build sustainable economic growth in Scotland, it is important that India remains a priority country for our international engagement. Scotland has expertise in areas of priority for India, such as education, skills, energy and water. We are committed to a partnership that has mutual benefit – allowing both countries to achieve their goals, whilst collectively reducing inequality.

It is critical that we directly engage Indian national and state governments, the Indian academic, business and cultural communities and civil society. Crucially, we want to connect with young Indians to show them what contemporary Scotland has to offer.

Find out more about current collaboration between India and Scotland

Updated February 2016

Scotland’s international ambitions

One of the key priorities of Scotland’s Economic Strategy is internationalisation. Our co-operation with India fully supports this. The aims of internationalisation are defined in Scotland’s International Framework:

to create an environment within Scotland that supports a better understanding of international opportunities and a greater appetite and ability to seize them; and

to influence the world around us on the issues that matter most in helping Scotland flourish.

Scotland’s ambitions for working with India, complement these ambitions as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Strategic objectives for engagement with India

Our International Framework has four strategic objectives, to which our engagement with India is aligned. Our engagement reflects some of India’s priorities, matched with Scotland’s expertise. It also offers scope for Scotland to learn from India.

Strategic Objective 1 - Global Outlook

Aim

To enhance Scotland's global outlook, we will embed internationalisation and create an environment which encourages knowledge exchange. We will provide targeted support to our people, businesses and institutions to help them to seize international opportunities. We must also understand the impact of our work on others.

Trade and Investment

The Scottish Government's purpose is sustainable economic growth. Similarly, the Indian Government is focused on continuing to build and diversify the Indian economy, through nationwide initiatives such as 'Make in India', 'Invest in India' and 'Digital India,'[4] and has ambitious plans to create 100 'Smart Cities'.[5]

This presents huge opportunities for Scottish companies to work in India, particularly in life sciences, technology and engineering, business and financial services and energy. Scotland's competitive taxes, business-friendly environment, skilled workforce and easy access to the rest of Europe and beyond, make it an ideal country for Indian companies to set up business. We will work with India to reduce barriers to trade and increase cooperation.

Through its offices in India (Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad) and Scotland, Scottish Development International can support this engagement.

Long-term ambitions

Support more Scottish companies to successfully do business in India.

Increase Scottish exports to India.

Support Scottish companies operating in India to increase their revenues.

Scotland is seen as a preferred trade and investment partner in India in technology, innovation and skills.

Encourage greater flows of talent and knowledge between Scotland and India.

Seek further investment from India into Scotland, with a focus on new high value investment.

Find out more about current collaboration in Trade and Investment

Find out about some of the organisations involved

Updated February 2016

Strategic Objective 2 - Relationship And Partnerships

Aim

We will work with partners to share local knowledge and build bilateral relationships and networks. We will continue to be a good global citizen, making distinctive contributions to addressing global challenges such as climate change, tackling inequality and promoting human rights. Our partnership with India will be sustainable. A relationship of trust, collaboration and mutual benefit is more likely to lead to long-term co-operation.

Education and Skills

The Indian Government is focused on raising academic and vocational standards of education and training. With the largest youth population in the world (356 million 10-24 year-olds[6]), the demand for education is high. The current skills development programme in India has the capacity to educate some 3.1 million Indians per year – however India has set a target of skilling 500 million people by 2022.[7]

Scotland has a global reputation for high quality education across all ages and stages. Scotland's education and research expertise makes us an ideal partner for India, whether focused on social enterprise, higher education, community learning, school (through the Curriculum for Excellence) or early years. In addition, Scotland has a skills development programme to equip people with the skills that they need to flourish in work.

In higher education Scotland has a reputation for world-leading research. Five Scottish universities feature in the world's top 200[8], and funding is in place to enable research partnerships and further collaboration. Furthermore, 19 Scottish higher education institutions work with 26,000 companies each year to turn research and development into new products.[9] A wealth of experience in Scotland and a tech savvy student population in India makes for a perfect partnership.

What is our long-term ambition?

Scotland and India's education, skills and research strengths are enhanced.

Scotland's educational reputation in India is improved.

India's educational reputation in Scotland is improved.

We contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 4 to ensure inclusive education.

Find out more about current collaboration in education and skills

Find out about some of the organisations involved

Updated February 2016

Strategic Objective 3 - Reputation and Attractiveness

Aim

We are committed to building our reputation and international attractiveness by celebrating and promoting our culture and values, boosting our export performance, ensuring that Scotland remains an attractive location for investment and building on our education research capability.

Energy and Water

With India's large population the demand for energy is very high. The Indian Government recognises that it needs not just a plan to add 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022[10], but a development strategy that will enable it to transition to a more sustainable energy mix. Scotland, which aims to generate an equivalent of 100% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020, is well positioned to partner with India.

Given the importance that the Indian Government is placing on clean water (such as the 'Ganga River Cleaning Project'), there are opportunities for collaboration in an area where Scotland has considerable expertise. This requires co-operation with both state and national governments.

The Scottish Government is committed to making Scotland a Hydro Nation. Our water resource is significant and in a world demanding more food and water, there is good reason to nurture it for long term sustainable use. Partnering with India to share best practice on the management of water and developing and piloting water purification technologies, will enhance Scotland's profile as a Hydro Nation and provide direct economic benefit to both countries.

What is our long-term ambition?

Contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 to ensure clean water and sanitation for all.

Contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 7 to ensure sustainable energy for all.

Encourage the use of Scottish technologies for water purification in India.

Support entrepreneurs from Scotland and India to establish water and energy businesses.

Find out more about current collaboration in energy and water

Find out about some of the organisations involved

Updated February 2016

Culture, Heritage and Tourism

Cultural collaboration between India and Scotland helps to develop mutual understanding and build a relationship of respect, trust and celebration. Both Scotland and India have distinct and diverse cultures and heritage, allowing infinite opportunities to inspire each other creatively, share skills and develop long-lasting partnerships. Culture can also be used to enhance educational and business co-operation between our two countries.

India has a growing middle class (expected to reach 200 million by 2020) with disposable income and interest in travelling overseas. Scotland has much to offer as a destination for both new Indian visitors and those with family ties.

What is our long-term ambition?

Strong, long term cultural co-operation between India and Scotland.

Greater awareness of Indian culture in Scotland, helping Scotland to internationalise.

Greater awareness in India of Scottish culture, including better visibility of Scottish cultural acts in India.

Scotland is established as a must-visit, must-return destination for key Indian tourist markets.

India is regarded as a key market for the Scottish tourism industry.

European Union

Aim: Encourage engagement with the
European Union.

Our ambitions for working with India align with the first three objectives of the International Framework. However, it is important that Scotland presents its views as appropriate on any EU-India agreements or collaborations.

Delivery

This strategy for engagement with India is clearly aligned with the Scottish Government's International Framework. As such, reporting on the success of the delivery of this engagement strategy will be through the International Framework's reporting mechanisms and contribute to the 'regular updates' that the Framework's accompanying policy statement set out.

Find out more about current collaboration in culture, heritage and tourism

Find out about some of the organisations involved

Updated February 2016

Find out more from some of the organisations involved

Trade and investment

Scottish Development International http://www.sdi.co.uk/locations/asia-and-pacific/india-new-delhi/new-delhi-office-details

Scottish Enterprise http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/knowledge-hub/articles/insight/india-key-market-for-scottish-business

Highlands and Islands Enterprise http://www.hie.co.uk/

GlobalScots http://www.globalscot.com/

UK India Business Council http://www.ukibc.com/

Scottish Chambers of Commerce http://www.scottishchambers.org.uk/

UK Trade and Investment https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-trade-investment

Education and skills

Scottish Government http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Education

British Council India http://www.britishcouncil.in/

UK – India Research Initiative http://www.ukieri.org/

Universities Scotland http://www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/

Universities http://www.scotland.org/study-in-scotland/universities-in-scotland/

Colleges Scotland http://www.collegesscotland.ac.uk/member-colleges.html

Scottish Development International http://www.sdi.co.uk/locations/asia-and-pacific/india-new-delhi/new-delhi-office-details

Education Scotland http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/

Skills Development Scotland https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/

Energy and water

Scottish Development International http://www.sdi.co.uk/locations/asia-and-pacific/india-new-delhi/new-delhi-office-details

Highlands and Islands Enterprise http://www.hie.co.uk/

Scottish Government http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment

James Hutton Institute http://www.hutton.ac.uk/

Centre of Expertise for Water http://www.crew.ac.uk/

Scottish Environment Protection Agency http://www.sepa.org.uk/

Water Industry Commission for Scotland http://www.watercommission.co.uk/

Scottish Water International http://www.scottishwater.co.uk/business/international

Hydro Nation Scholars Programme http://www.hydronationscholars.scot/

Culture, heritage and tourism

Creative Scotland http://www.creativescotland.com/

British Council Scotland http://scotland.britishcouncil.org/

British Council India http://www.britishcouncil.in/

National Performing Companies http://www.gov.scot/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/arts/Sponsored-bodies/NationalPerformingCompanies

National Museums Scotland http://www.nms.ac.uk/explore/introducing-our-collections/

Scottish Ten Project http://www.scottishten.org/property4

VisitScotland http://www.visitscotland.com/

VisitBritain https://www.visitbritain.org/

Footnotes

1. Reference: UN Population Prospects 2015 http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/

2. Reference: The Guardian, April 2014 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/08/india-leaders-young-people-change-2014-elections

3. Richard Everitt: Head of Education, British Council India, Sept 2015

4. Government of India, Department of Electronics and Information Technology www.digitalindia.gov.in/

5. Indian Ministry of Urban Development: http://smartcities.gov.in/

6. Source: UN Report, 2014

7. Source: India's National Policy on Skill Development, 2015

8. Source: Times Higher Education World University Index 2015

9. Source: Universities Scotland

10. Source: Indian Ministry for New and Renewable Energy: http://www.mnre.gov.in/