The Mail and the Mail Online have today (Saturday 3 November) both reported that the UK has provided more than £1 billion in aid to India during the time it has taken the country to build its ‘Unity Statue’.
As reported in the articles, no UK aid has been used to fund this statue.
Our partnership with India is one that delivers benefits for both countries and our joint role in the world. The support referenced in the article also comes from other government departments, as well as multilateral organisations, which the UK funds.
UK aid is helping to provide world-leading expertise and private investments in India, which is helping to boost prosperity, create jobs and open up markets for UK businesses, while generating a return for the UK. This is firmly in our interests.
India is fast emerging as a global power and is set to become the world’s third largest economy. It is becoming increasingly more important for the UK’s economic, security and geopolitical interests. British development co-operation plays a vital role alongside our world-class diplomatic, trade and defence relationships in fostering the UK-India partnership for the benefit of both countries and as a force for good in an uncertain world.
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