The survey by the Office for National Statistics showed a fall in trade with the rest of Europe but a rise in trade with Asia and with the US. Britain is now stressing higher trade with Asia and Europe. The push has given a more "businesslike edge" to the visit of the team of Indian businessmen under the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a trade official told IANS.

British trade officials are setting up several meetings to explore new possibilities for business with India during the visit. The accent is on selling services rather than goods.

A seminar will be held at the offices of the Confederation of British Industry on corporategovernance in the financial sector. Howard Davies, chairman of the Financial Services Authority, will be the principal speaker. This will be followed by a meeting on India's position on world trade policy. Commerce secretary PP Prabhu will set out the Indian position and Charles Bridge, Director of Trade Policy in the Department of Trade and Industry, will give the British view.

Both meetings have a significance that goes beyond holding a seminar, Indian trade officials said.

"The meeting on world trade policy will raise questions about a new round of trade negotiations, which India has been opposing," he said. Questions about intellectual property rights will also be raised, he said.

"These questions are key to opening up trade possibilities in the services area," the official said. "These are not policy meetings but we are expecting discussions on improving of trade possibiliities by working around present hurdles," the official said.