LONDON, Apr 24: Vikram Doraiswami has wrapped up his tenure as India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom this week and will now take up his new assignment as India’s Ambassador to China in Beijing.
UK Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Seema Malhotra, praised Doraiswami’s contribution in elevating India-UK ties to a “new level” during his over three-year posting in London.
The British Indian minister highlighted his “unflappable nature” and diplomatic finesse, noting his key role in the successful conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a major milestone in bilateral relations.
“You’ve taken the partnership between our countries to a new level, playing that central role in bringing the Free Trade Agreement to its conclusion and helping overcome every challenge along the way,” Malhotra said at a farewell event in London.
She also noted that Doraiswami helped unlock new investment through the UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge, adding that his contributions would continue to shape bilateral ties for years.
“Beijing’s gain will be London’s loss,” she remarked.
Doraiswami, a 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer fluent in Mandarin, has previously served in the Indian Embassy in Beijing for nearly four years between 1996 and 2000.
Addressing diplomats, parliamentarians, and diaspora representatives, he said that diplomatic work is always ongoing and never truly finished.
“What the Free Trade Agreement gives us is a platform to increase trade and investment flows. It reflects the idea that India’s growth and Britain’s growth are interconnected,” he said.
His final days in London included engagements with multi-faith communities and discussions on strengthening cultural ties, including collaborations with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in the UK.
Alistair Harrison, Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, also met Doraiswami at India House to convey farewell wishes on behalf of King Charles III, acknowledging the strength and continuity of India-UK relations.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey praised his leadership and thanked him for his contribution as Chair of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Executive Committee.
Meanwhile, Periasamy Kumaran, also a 1992-batch IFS officer, has been appointed as the new High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom and is expected to assume charge soon. (Agency)
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