A recent survey conducted by InvestUK, the British government's inward investment agency, shows that the total number of Indian firms investing in the United Kingdom has gone up to 441.

Of these, 338 are in the information and communications technology sector.

Announcing the results of the survey, Acting High Commissioner to India, Mark Runacres, said: "These new figures provide yet more evidence of Indian industry's confidence in the UK. The 441 Indian companies have chosen the UK because they can see the strength and potential of the UK economy."

"They find the UK a comfortable and profitable place to work and they know that the UK government actively supports innovation, business and inward investment and will offer them strong practical support. We are committed to attracting even more high-quality Indian companies in the knowledge-based sectors to set up in the UK, and to use it as a base from which to penetrate the European market," he added.

The list of 441 Indian firms now operating in the UK, though dominated by India's IT giants -- Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Technologies, Wipro and Birla Soft -- also includes a range of firms from various other sectors: Bharat Forge, Thermax, Tata Tetley, Compact Disk India Ltd, Mastek and Bank of India.

The InvestUK survey also notes that in keeping with global trends, several Indian firms from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors are now showing increased interest in investing in the UK.

India is fast emerging as an important source of investments in the UK. In terms of projects, India is the second biggest investor in the UK from Asia.

About 40 per cent of Indian overseas investment flows into Europe, compared to 20 per cent to the United States. Out of the total Indian investment flow into Europe, over 60 per cent is concentrated in the UK.

InvestˇUK provides a single source of information and advice to all investors regardless of their size or the nature of their business. It assists companies establish or expand business from a base in the UK, quickly and smoothly. InvestˇUK's services are free and confidential.

InvestˇUK aims to attract, retain and add value to inward investment by communicating the benefits of the UK as the first choice in Europe for potential investors. One in three companies moving to Europe choose to invest in the UK.