Chennai:
Bharat Joshi is the new British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai.
He succeeds Mike Nithavrianakis who had served here for four very active years. Joshi will have a challenging task ahead as a major part of his Chennai portfolio is focused on enhancing the trade and investment partnership between the UK and the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
Born in Croydon, UK, in 1969, Joshi joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1995 and has had diplomatic postings in Gambia, Dhaka and Qatar. He was most recently British High Commissioner to Cameroon and non-resident Ambassador to Gabon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.
A specialist in crisis management, he had been deployed to the scenes of major incidents involving British nationals including after the bombing of the British consulate general at Istanbul in 2003.
He has spent much time in dealing with critical diplomatic issues, including promoting trade and human rights, besides climate change and UN policy issues.
Joshi said he is hugely excited “returning to my country of origin at a time when the UK’s relations with India are growing at a faster pace than ever before — evidenced by growing trade, the opening of new UK offices across India and regular high-level visits in both directions — is a dream come true.”
He said he was “looking forward to getting to know this part of the country and its people over the next few years.” Joshi is married to Bhakti for 17 years and they have two daughters. Cricket, badminton, history, reading and travelling are among his prime interests.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by DC / November 06th, 2013