How much does India need Britain

In my government capacity as a dealmaker responsible for India for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), I have been accompanying the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Baroness Verma, on her exhausting, relentless itinerary -Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Delhi, Lucknow and Delhi. I missed only Hyderabad on the final leg.

We usually finish at midnight and resume again to head to the airport at 0330 for the next flight and the next city. As the parliamentarian and son of the Punjab chief minister Badal noted, it's taken a British person, a British Punjabi minister no less, to bring the Punjabi opposing political parties together at a round table in a conciliatory manner to focus on the issues facing Punjab and pledge to do their utmost. His words. Irony indeed. But also a reflection that British diplomacy done right, does not need to be patronising, hostile, difficult, embarrassing and counter-productive.

I have been coming to Indo-UK government meetings since 1999 and have attended just under 100 of them in that time. This was the first time ever I have seen the Indian side treat the British as 'one of the family'. Of course it helps if you can speak to your audience in their own language.

So what, beyond a warm feeling, does Britain offer Not just in Punjab, but also our visits in Delhi and Lucknow, there was a sense of Indians asking for help but as equals and mature business partners. And Britain, of course, keen to provide it. Opportunities exist for capital investment, but also contracts which will solve problems of energy provision.

Where do you find the opportunities to invest in construction, energy saving devices, agriculture Start with the British High Commission and UKTI and UK India Business Council. Between the three of them, they have their finger on the pulse of what's needed by whom and where. Add to that the Confederation of Indian Industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and you pretty much have contacted everyone you need to answer the question: 'my business does XYZ, what are the opportunities in India '

But in the energy and climate change arenas you are especially desirable whether working in wind, solar or biofuels. The criteria for winning contracts is the same as anywhere else -how will your product provide a return on investment to anyone else's

And what about corruption Well, one person told me that if you get 20% of the contract monies allocated, then that's still 100% of what you asked for.

India is a willing business partner. It knows the opportunities provided by growth to require it to reach out to those with specialist know-how.

But people of maturity see this only as a relationship of mutual benefit between friends. They do not seek immature labels or gloat in the difference in economic growth and global power. They just get on with business.

So what next An Indian minister in the Department for Business Innovation and Skills The Prime Minister, David Cameron, appointed Greg Barker as minister for Special Responsibility for India. Given the PM's own focus on this 'enhanced' relationship, it would make a lot of sense for minister Barker to start sharing that responsibility with other British Indian parliamentarian ministers. Rapport is key. Britain has an asset in its British Indian parliamentarians.