BUSINESS leaders gathered at Salford Quays to hear the latest on plans to develop business links with India.

The Vision of India event held at The Lowry was part of a major research project being carried out by the UK India Business Council and the UKTI North West India Unit.

As part of the project, they are making trips to India in a bid to find up-and-coming market sectors in some of its less prominent or ‘second tier’ cities.

Around 100 north west business representatives attended the prestigious event, including Salford-based Peel Media, who are the developers behind MediaCity:UK.

Sandra Busby, speaking on behalf of the UK India Business Council and the UKTI North West India Unit, said: "With India's economy rapidly expanding, there are regions and cities where we have only just scratched the surface of potential trade opportunities.

"Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are all much visited places and there is lots of business going on there.

"What this second tier city research will identify are the new opportunities available for north west businesses in places such as the city of Pune and the Gujerat region of western India."

As part of the event, plans were unveiled for a trade mission group to visit Mumbai in February next year.

Here they will look for opportunities for the creative and media companies who will locate to the Quays in 2012.