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Cameron’s Visit
Hawk contract, cultural deal on anvil

London, July 25
A £500 million deal for BAE systems, Britain’s biggest defence contractor, to supply Hawk jet trainers is expected to be among a string of high-profile contracts to be signed during Prime Minister David Cameron’s two-day visit to India commencing on Wednesday. There is also likely to be a major cultural agreement involving museums, ‘The Observer’ reported today .Cameron is taking with him seven Cabinet ministers and a huge trade delegation, including representatives from BAE as well as from Rolls-Royce, Standard Chartered Bank, construction group Balfour Beatty and the British Museum.

The BAE has set up joint ventures with the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics in Bangalore. The Indian group makes BAE’s Hawk trainer aircraft under licence. Dick Olver, BAE’s Chairman, said British business needed to think about India becoming as important a trading partner as America. — PTI