On Wednesday 2nd May 2007, Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs met with the European Heads of major Indian companies such as ICICI Bank, Tata and Reliance ADA under the auspices of ‘The India Group’ to discuss the UK government’s efforts in tackling climate change.

Sonjoy Chatterjee, MD & CEO of ICICI Bank UK Plc, in his capacity as Chairman on ‘The India Group’ said: “We welcomed the chance to meet with David Miliband as we recognise that he’s embarked on a journey that brings climate change to the centre of the business agenda in Britain.”

Mr Chatterjee added: “Just as in India, despite our ambitions and growth forecasts, we realise the need to cut our emissions and contribute to the low carbon economy that Mr Miliband and the proposed climate change bill will bring into place. We welcomed the flexible and practical emissions trading regime as one way to reduce emissions and we intend on playing our part in finding and implementing cost effective measures in tackling climate change.”

The meeting was also attended by:

• Barry Gardiner MP – Minister for Biodiversity
• Stephen Pound MP – Chairman of Labour Friends of India
• Rt. Hon. Elliot Morley MP – PMs Envoy on Climate Change
• Lord Jay of Ewelme – PMs Sherpa for G8 Summits in Gleneagles & St. Petersburg & former Permanent Secretary of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Henry Derwent – Director for Climate Change & Energy Policy, DEFRA
• Adam Mathews – Director General of GLOBE International