On the 19th January 2005 the FPC held a seminar Seminar discussion with H.E. Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.

India's economy could be larger than all but the US and China in 30 years – this projected economic clout will inevitably mean that it will be a force in determining the health of international markets and the multilateral trading system. Its trade and investment relationship with other rising economic powers and major trading blocks, including ASEAN, the EU, NAFTA, and Mercosur will also affect bilateral and regional relations.

The development of certain sectors - including pharmaceuticals, IT, BPO– have already had a notable impact on both the global economy and India itself. The country is now in the process of implementing key reforms to drive competitiveness and higher levels of innovation. The lecture addressed crucial questions such as: How is globalisation shaping India's development and sense of itself? How will India look to shape its own global role? How will India's new role impact on the international system?

The Foreign Policy Centre's India Programme aims to engage a broader group of actors with new thinking on the social and economic consequences of globalisation on India and the impact of India's growing influence on the future of globalisation.