India is one of our most important partners, says UK high commissioner Alex Ellis

Ellis also highlighted the British assistance to India as it battles the second wave of COVID-19.

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New Delhi: Calling India a UK's one of the most important partners, the United Kingdom's high commissioner to India Alex Ellis has said that this is a moment to transform the relationship between the two countries. 

While speaking to Zee Media, Ellis also talked about the British assistance to India as it battles the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the UK has worked with the utmost urgency and speed to support friends in India. 

He also pointed to the incredible level of support from the wider British public and industry.

On April 27, the UK became the first country to send assistance to New Delhi amid the second wave of coronavirus. 

Zee Media: The UK was the first country to send assistance to India to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of solidarity was seen in the UK for India, from the top leadership as well as the people. If you can give some detail on the assistance?

Alex Ellis: Across Government, the UK has worked with the utmost urgency and speed to support our friends in India, to help relieve the phenomenal pressure the country’s healthcare system is under.  The Prime Minister himself made a pledge to do all we can to help. The UK has announced the delivery of vital medical equipment to assist India in its fight against Covid-19. This includes: 1,200 ventilators, 495 oxygen concentrators, and 3 oxygen generation units. The first shipment arrived early on 27 April, and that equipment is already being distributed to Indian hospitals. There have been further shipments this week, and more still to come. I am also delighted to see the incredible level of support from the wider British public and industry. From His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to the diaspora and student communities, everyone is doing their bit to help. Businesses have also mobilized and are working directly with the Indian High Commission in London. The British Asian Trust, for example, has raised over £1.25 million through their emergency appeal. The Living Bridge we share is truly amazing.

Zee Media: How helpful do you see your assistance will be for India?

Alex Ellis: As the Prime Minister has said, ‘We stand side-by-side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against COVID-19’. Our health secretaries, foreign ministers, and a range of experts from various fields are in regular contact. And we will continue working closely with the Government of India to identify the right kind of assistance we can provide. Oxygen is obviously one of the main needs at this time, which is why we announced further support with the 3 oxygen generation units. These oxygen units are the size of shipping containers - each capable of producing 500 litres of oxygen per minute, enough for 50 people to use at a time.

Zee Media: What kind of COVID-19 assistance can be expected between the two, especially on coronavirus vaccines?

Alex Ellis: The importance of our collaboration on researching, developing, and manufacturing a Covid vaccine cannot be understated. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was developed with unprecedented speed and made available ‘at cost’ to Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. This is already a scientific achievement of historic proportions. The UK is India’s biggest European research partner, and 2nd biggest globally, with £400 million joint investment in research and innovation collaboration since 2008. Over 20% of UK Research and Innovation’s partnership with India is health and wellbeing focused. Through the WHO, the UK is providing technical assistance to bolster the Integrated Health Information Platforms in 20 Indian states; through the International Finance Corporation, we are supporting the establishment a Covid-19 diagnostic network covering 70 million people in Madhya Pradesh. We also have regular channels of communication between scientists and health policy experts in the UK and India on the genomic sequencing of virus variants, informing both sides’ understanding of how the virus behaves and how it can be treated.

Zee Media: How will you characterize the relationship between India and the UK. The post-Brexit UK, with indo-pacific tilt and how vital New Delhi is for London?

Alex Ellis: India is one of our most important partners. There is a high degree of convergence between the UK’s Integrated Review and India’s priorities for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, anchored by democratic values. As we embark on an intensive period of international leadership – the UK as Presidency of the G7 and COP26, and India on the UN Security Council, as BRICS President and G20 President in 2023 – this is a moment to transform our relationship, address challenges to our security in both the physical and digital worlds, respond to the economic and health impacts of Covid-19 and lay the foundations for a secure and prosperous decade ahead.

Zee Media: Boris Johnson is very keen to visit India but the visit got postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis. When can he be expected now?

Alex Ellis: The Prime Minister remains keen to return to India as soon as he is able but obviously paramount at this time for both Governments is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our people. Both our Prime Ministers remain committed to setting out the next decade of the UK-India success story and we expect to see these conversations taking place very soon.