Jowell ‘bangs drum for Britain' in Bollywood

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is this week leading a trade delegation to encourage the Indian film industry – the biggest in the world – to make more movies in the UK and use British film talent both sides of the camera.
Ten Indian films were shot in the UK in 2001, spending £2.5 million – but the DCMS believes that the potential to build on that partnership is enormous. India produced more than 1,000 films in 2001 and watching films is the most popular form of entertainment in the Indian sub-continent, with nearly three billion trips made to the cinema each year.
Tessa Jowell's visit will start with a keynote address to nearly 2,000 business delegates at the Frames entertainment festival in Mumbai. Her speech will discuss the opportunities and threats facing the global creative community.
She will highlight the need for joint international efforts to tackle piracy. She will also speak about the Government's intention to create a forum - jointly with the creative industries - to consider some of the key issues surrounding the protection of intellectual property rights.
The Minister will also highlight an initiative that brings together local development authorities and media agencies to promote Leicester as the European capital for South Asian media.
(GB)