Priti Patel MP spoke of the growing importance in the relationship between the UK and West Bengal at a reception last night.

The Work and Pensions Minister was speaking at a business reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where she welcomed the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee to London.

Speaking on the night she said, "This is a landmark visit. A visit which brings greater strength to existing friendships, provides an opportunity to build new ones and brings greater focus on doing business to drive prosperity in both our countries.

"Our collective aim is to forge partnerships between our people and our institutions that will improve the lives of all our citizens."

The MP met the Chief Minister in November 2013 when she accompanied our Prime Minister, David Cameron, on a visit to Kolkata.

"That was his third visit to India as Prime Minister – a remarkable sign of his personal commitment to strengthening the partnership between our two countries – but it was his first visit to Kolkata. In fact it was the first visit to Kolkata by a British Prime Minister in over sixteen years."

She said, A large number of British businesses, many of them present here today, have found new opportunities to bring their world-class products and services to a growing market in West Bengal. Others have chosen Kolkata as the base for their India operations.

At the same time, Kolkata-based businesses people, some today, have increased and diversified their investments in the United Kingdom- ensuring that India continues to invest more in the United Kingdom that it does in the rest of the European Union combined.

"Investors from West Bengal are ingrained upon British society, whether in traditional or more innovative sectors. Big brand names such as Apeejay Group, who own Typhoo Tea, and Tata Tea, who own Tetley Tea, help thousands of Brits to enjoy a cuppa daily. ITC Infotech was amongst first Indian IT companies opening up an office in the UK and helping to provide Brits with IT solutions fit for the 21st century. "And UK and West Bengal universities and institutions have forged new collaborations in the fields of public health, the arts and urban development. And our governments are working together to share best practice on improving the business climate and on making it easier for companies to do business between the UK and West Bengal."

She added, "As Kolkata makes great strides towards the future, I hope it will not lose sight of its past. I was struck, during my visit to the city, by the extraordinary built heritage the city has.

"Beautiful public buildings that bear testament to the history not just of Bengal but of India and of India’s place in the world. Restored and given new life, Kolkata’s urban treasures could be a great driver of prosperity. Kolkata can and should become a World Heritage City.

"I hope, Chief Minister, that you have time this week to see some of the work we have done in London to preserve our own heritage and put it at the heart of the cultural and commercial life of our city. That blending of the old and the new is a key part of London’s character.

"I know there are a number of UK experts and architects, some of them here today, who could help you do the same in Kolkata. UK companies are already engaged in the East-West metro railway project in Kolkata, and in the modernisation of Kolkata Airport. I would like to see further infrastructure and architecture collaboration become a major area of collaboration in the future.

"The ties between the United Kingdom and Bengal run deep. We must celebrate that. But we must also work together to renew and reinvigorate them so that they don’t just reflect our shared history, they shape our shared future as well."