Philip Barton becomes High Commissioner to India

THE UK on Thursday (6) appointed Philip Barton as the next High Commissioner to India.

Barton will succeed Dominic Asquith, who recently concluded a four-year term in the south Asian country.

Barton leaves his position as the Director-General of Consular and Security at the British Foreign Office.

He had earlier served as High Commissioner to Pakistan for a period of two years from 2014.

Barton worked in many roles to serve Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), including as the Additional Director of South Asia during 2008-09 and as the Director of the Cabinet Office.

He also worked as coordinator of foreign policy and Afghanistan and Pakistan for the period 2009-11.

Barton’s appointment has come when Britain aims to grow its ties with India and other Commonwealth countries as it moved out of the European Union (EU) last Friday (31) night, a move welcomed by Indian businesses operating in the UK, as well as British businesses keen to expand into the Indian market.

The official transition period from last Saturday (1) until the end of December means status quo in terms of much of the trade and business operations vis-a-vis the UK and EU, but what does change is Britain’s free hand to strike new deals and partnerships around the world.

Leading trade organisations and Indian entrepreneurs see this as an exciting time for the India-UK trade and economic partnership to be taken to a new level.

Asquith oversaw a period where Indian businesses doubled their revenues in the UK.