London: The Indian diaspora in Britain are significant to the country since they contribute 6 percent to their GDP, despite being a mere 1.8 percent of Briatin's population, said India's new High Commissioner Navtej Sarna yesterday.

Addressing members of the House of Commons and House of Lords at a welcome extended to him, he also went on to highlight it was more expensive to study at Britain's Oxford and Cambridge universities than institutions in other countries, but Indians were willing to pay extra for the quality of education offered by Oxbridge.

What was preventing more students from India in coming to such centres of excellence, said Sarna, was "visa difficulties are making the other destinations more attractive". Among these other destinations, he specifically mentioned Australia and New Zealand.

The event at the Westminster Palace, which houses the British parliament, was jointly hosted by the Indo-British and Commonwealth All Party Parliamentary Groups. (IANS)