Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

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3rd October 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

First ever British Business Groups’ national meet- ‘cautiously optimistic’

For the first time in living memory, and presumably ever, the British Business Groups (BBGs) around India held a national conference on 23-24 September 2011. Over 150 delegates took part, largely representing the BBGs in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Goa and Chennai. It is difficult to summarise the conclusions of such a large group, but […]

25th August 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Three years and still like that only

In the following guest blog, Collette Weston, Deputy Head – UK Trade and Investment (Western India), bids a fond farewell to her Mumbai team, Mumbai and India. I got caught in a traffic jam on my way home from work the other day. I am sure most of the other bloggers on the FCO platform […]

12th August 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

An IT conglomerate sharing space with bats and butterflies

In Mumbai, a city of about 18 million heaving with offices, accommodation and traffic, you don’t expect to find a sanctuary of calm less than 15 minutes from the international airport. But on a recent visit to call on the Global Chief Executive of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Mr Chandrasekharan (Chandra), that is precisely what […]

8th July 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

A dark side of Mumbai – and a home away from ‘home’

A small group from the Deputy High Commission went after work one evening to a part of Mumbai we wouldn’t normally visit. Kamathipura has numerous small businesses, and like every part of the city is a great example of entrepreneurism. That evening we saw the dark side of business, calling on the founder of an […]

22nd June 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Student exchanges on the increase to and from India to Britain

For two consecutive Fridays I have had an opportunity to get a glimpse of how British universities are making their mark in India. On the first occasion I attended the launch of an initiative by Glasgow Caledonian University with the Deccan Education Society at Fergusson College, part of Pune University. Held at the College’s […]

8th June 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Mangoes to Harrods and technology from the UK

Jamnagar is not one of the most well-known towns in India. For many years it must have been a small settlement surrounded by semi -arid scrubland, existing mainly as a trading place and a stop for travellers around what is now Gujarat state, and with a number of well-preserved 16th century Jain temples. Nestled in […]

3rd May 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Cricket the IPL way – or how to begin to understand the middle classes in India

I met recently in Mumbai a former colleague, and competitor, visiting from the Enterprise Ireland trade promotion organisation in Dublin. We had worked in Sweden at the same time, seeking out opportunities for our countries in the large Swedish and Scandinavian markets. I was able to obtain an extra ticket for him to join my […]

3rd May 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

New UK trade and investment minister’s first overseas visit – to India, and Mumbai

The importance the British Government attaches to enhancing relations with India was underlined in March when Lord Green visited the country, including Mumbai. Lord Green has just weeks ago taken on the position of Minister of Trade and Investment, and his first official overseas visit was to India. Lord Green is well known to many […]

20th April 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

5m people, an economy growing at 11.5 per cent – Ingredients for a “second tier” city in India

I made two visits recently to the State of Gujarat in Western India, both of which underline the enormous potential for UK companies in India, and the scale of developments here. At the end of March a team from our trade and investment operation in Mumbai travelled to Surat, the second largest city in Gujarat, […]

8th March 2011

by Peter Beckingham

Former governor in Turks and Caicos Islands

This post was published when the author was in a previous role

Largest ever overseas investment in India – by a British company

In February I took part in five workshops, from Edinburgh to Newmarket, and Leeds to London. These workshops were arranged and supported variously by UKTI, the Asia Task Force, RBS and The Economist Intelligence Unit about India. From the number of businesspeople who attended at each venue, probably over 500 in all, I was left […]

About Peter Beckingham

Peter was the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands from 2013 to 2016. Before this, he was British Deputy High Commissioner to India, based in Mumbai, the commercial capital,…

Peter was the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands from
2013 to 2016. Before this, he was British Deputy High Commissioner to India, based in Mumbai, the commercial capital, where he had a responsibility for developing UK-India trade and investment. His earlier appointments have
included Consul-General and Director-General of Trade and Investment in
Sydney, and British Ambassador to the Philippines, where he initiated
the UK Government’s involvement in a peace process with the Philippine
Government and Muslim rebel groups.
Peter is married to Jill, a teacher of special needs, and they have
two grown up children. His outside interests include cricket, golf and
running.

Peter Beckingham

Three years and still like that only

An IT conglomerate sharing space with bats and butterflies

A dark side of Mumbai – and a home away from ‘home’

Student exchanges on the increase to and from India to Britain

Mangoes to Harrods and technology from the UK

Cricket the IPL way – or how to begin to understand the middle classes in India

New UK trade and investment minister’s first overseas visit – to India, and Mumbai

5m people, an economy growing at 11.5 per cent – Ingredients for a “second tier” city in India

Largest ever overseas investment in India – by a British company

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