During her week-long visit, Ms Hyslop will go to the Rajasthan International Folk Festival in Jodhpur and undertake business, cultural and diplomatic engagements in Delhi.

Ms Hyslop said: "India is an important investor in Scotland, providing approximately 5000 Scottish jobs."

The trip was announced as Ms Hyslop visited ReSide, a collaboration between Scottish and Indian textile artists at Heriot-Watt University's Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels. The project, which includes a residency exchange, is part of Creative Scotland's Creative Futures.

Creative Scotland director of development Venu Dhupa said: "Creative Futures is all about promoting the talent, ambition and connectivity, and international partnerships can contribute greatly."

Professor Alison Harley, head of Heriot-Watt University's School of Textiles and Design, said the project had "tremendous potential benefits" for both countries.