Although the East India Company flourished a very long time ago, in a very different world, its growth, longevity and demise have lessons for those who run today's state companies and debate their future, lessons about the benefits of linking a company's interests to a nation's and the dangers of doing so.
"We are introducing today a same-day visa service for business people who want to come to Britain for linking up their businesses for trade and other things like that, " he said.