Kingfisher group chief executive Ian Cheshire is this week visiting India with Prime Minister David Cameron as the only stores chief represented on the trade mission.

Cheshire, along with 50 other FTSE chief executives, was called upon by the Government to attend the trip, which is intended to strengthen links between the

two countries.

As well as “developing closer links with Government”, Cheshire said he was also there to expand the B&Q owner’s existing Indian sourcing operations.

India is a key market for retailers, worth $469.27bn (£302.61bn) according to research body IGD. Companies such as Marks & Spencer and Tesco are expanding there.

Cheshire told Retail Week: “A key part of Kingfisher’s Delivering Value strategy is to grow group sourcing, and expanding our sourcing office in India can play a major part in that. India is clearly a fast-growing economy and can be a leading trading partner for the UK.”