A year-long programme of events aimed at strengthening ties between Scotland and India has been launched.

The programme will have a strong focus on literature and publishing. It aims not only to explore the many existing links between Scotland and Kolkata (Calcutta), but actively to develop new ideas and relationships as the year progresses.

The springboard will be the popular Kolkata Book Fair, which attracts more than 2.2 million visitors over 10 days in late January, with some 600 exhibitors from the worlds of publishing, newspapers, banking, education, diplomacy and government.

Roy Cross, director of the British Council Scotland, said: “Scotland and India have deep historical links and the further development of ties to India, one of the world’s largest growing economies with a population of over 1.1 billion people, can only have a significant impact on Scotland.”

E: malena.malbaek@britishcouncil.org.