London: London’s Pakistan-origin Mayor Sadiq Khan has appointed India-born millionaire Rajesh Agarwal as his deputy mayor for Business.
Rajesh Agarwal’s main task will be to look after London’s financial interests amid the fall-out of the ‘Brexit’ and resignation of David Cameron as Prime Minister of United Kingdom(UK).
Rajesh Agarwal is the founder and CEO of Xendpay, an global money transfer service, and RationalFX, an online foreign exchange service.
He features in the rich list of Britain's Sunday Times with a fortune of 90 million pounds.
39-year Agarwal was born and brought up in Indore. He was Business advisor to Sadiq Khan during his mayoral campaign.
Sadiq Khan, the son of a Pakistani bus driver, took charge as London's first Muslim mayor last month.
"The mayor and I are determined to build a coalition that ensures the needs of business and financial services are at the fore over the coming months of negotiations with the EU. ... My first priority will be to listen and engage with businesses, to hear their concerns and deliver reassurance," said Agarwal, who will step down from his businesses to focus on his new role at City Hall in London.
"I stepped on a plane for the first time 15 years ago to make the journey to London, and found a city that welcomed me with open arms and didn't make me feel like a stranger,” he added.
"This openness to talent and enterprise must not change as a result of the referendum. I share Sadiq's belief that a thriving economy is critical to ensure that all Londoners can share in our great city's future success."
"Having arrived in London equipped with the ambition to succeed, Rajesh has created a multimillion-pound businesses from scratch and knows first-hand the challenges that our business leaders face, and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. I know that Rajesh is the best person for the job of protecting jobs and growth in London as we deal with the fallout of the referendum," Khan said.
Khan has called on the UK government to give London an equal voice in negotiations with the EU after London had voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining within the economic bloc, in stark contrast to the countrywide result in favour of Brexit.
(With PTI inputs)
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