Under the umbrella of the successful Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), the economic development programme that ran alongside Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, West Midlands Growth Company developed the West Midlands India Partnership (WMIP), an initiative that worked to enhance UK-India relations and boost trade, investment, connectivity and partnerships between the West Midlands and India.

With the closedown of the BATP, West Midlands Growth Company is reviewing its international strategy and will soon be confirming the region’s wider global ambitions and agenda. This will build on the achievements of the West Midlands India Partnership which successfully launched the region’s first India strategy and forged new cultural and economic links.

During the work of the WMIP, the region saw India overtake the USA as the West Midlands primary source of international investment, with almost 1500 jobs created by Indian businesses. Companies such as First Source, Microland and TVS have landed in the region, while Tata has continued grow across multiple business units.

Work continues on the development of the region’s international strategy and will build on the successes of the WMIP.

For further information on the region’s international agenda, please contact our International Markets Lead, Chris Lau.