CII CEOs Delegation to the UK: 6 – 7 July 2016, London

A high-profile CEOs delegation led by Dr Naushad Forbes, President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and

Co-chairman, Forbes Marshall visited the UK from 6 - 7 July, 2016. The visit aimed to show camaraderie and

restore confidence in India-UK business ties, despite the turmoil in the markets caused by Britain’s exit from the

EU. One of the largest CII delegations to the UK in recent times, comprised of 22 CEOs from India, met with diverse

stakeholders– including government, parliamentarians, industry and academia, in a bid to strengthen the overall

strategic and economic imperatives.

CII UK Annual Conference

CII’s annual conference on “The Future of India-UK Economic Relations”, supported by the Confederation of

British Industry (CBI) and regional partner, Scottish Development International (SDI) was held to coincide with the

visit of the CEOs delegation. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII opened the proceedings, encouraging the

business community to focus on a positive outlook. While the current scenario can look challenging in many ways,

he said, it is also full of greater promise and opportunity. Dr. Naushad Forbes, President, CII and Co-chairman,

Forbes Marshall further urged the two governments to seize the unprecedented opportunity and negotiate a fresh

trade agreement, given the first movers’ advantage in the current scenario.

Opening panel at CII’s annual conference on The Future of India-UK Economic Relations held on 6 July in London. Seated L –

R: Sir Dominic Asquith, High Commissioner of India to the UK, Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary of the Economy, Scotland,

Dr Naushad Forbes, President, CII, Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Science and Universities, HE Navtej Sarna, High

Commissioner of India to the UK, Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII and Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General, CBI.

Members of the delegation included Ms Shobana Kamineni, President Designate, CII and Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo

Hospitals Enterprise Ltd; Mr Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice President, CII and Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises Ltd; Mr

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII; Mr Sumit Mazumder, Immediate Past President, CII and Chairman & Managing

Director, TIL Ltd; Mr Dhruv M Sawhney, Past President, CII and Chairman & Managing Director, Triveni Turbine Ltd; Mr

Rajive Kaul, Past President, CII and Chairman, Nicco Engineering Services Ltd; Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, Past President, CII

and Chairman, Hero Corporate Service Pvt Ltd; Mr Ajay S Shriram, Past President, CII and Chairman & Sr Managing Director,

DCM Shriram Ltd; Mr Raghu Kailas, National Chairman, CII Young Indians and Managing Director, Unimo Exports Pvt Ltd ;

Mr Jacob Joy, National Vice Chairman, CII Young Indians and Director, J J Confectionery Pvt Ltd; Mr Sanjiv Bajaj, Managing

Director, Bajaj Finserv Ltd; Dr Rajiv I Modi, Chairman & Managing Director, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Mr Farhad Forbes,

Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall Pvt Ltd; Mr Rajan R Navani, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, JetLine Group of

Companies; Mr Salil Singhal, Chairman & Managing Director, PI Industries Ltd; Mr Sunil Mathur, Managing Director & CEO,

Siemens Ltd; Mr Alok Kirloskar, Managing Director, SPP Pumps Ltd; and Mr Deep Kapuria, Chairman, The Hi-Tech Group.

Jo Johnson MP, UK Minister of State for Universities & Science

announced the intent to continue the strong collaboration with India

in science and technology, and announced a major upcoming bilateral

Summit. “The UK and India have long shared a recognition of the vital

role science and innovation play in driving growth and increasing

prosperity. Through our commitment to build on our research

collaborations we will ensure both countries lead the world in new

technologies, new scientific endeavours and new discoveries,” said

Minister Johnson.

Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science delivers

remarks, announcing UK to partner India on Tech Summit at CII’s annual

conference on The Future of UK-India Economic Relations

The UK will partner India on “Tech Summit” from 7 - 9 November

2016 in New Delhi, which is envisioned to be a mega-platform promoting technology-led collaborations. Minister

Johnson encouraged the UK business community to go to India to participate in the Summit, and explore

opportunities for trade, investment and technology collaboration that both countries are wholeheartedly supporting.

The session was moderated by Mark Runacres, India Advisor for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

Panellists in the business session included:

Shobana Kamineni, President Designate, CII and Executive Vice-Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.,

Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice President, CII and Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises,

Dhruv Sawhney, Chairman & Managing Director, Triveni Turbines Ltd.

Ajay Shriram, Past President, CII and Chairman & Senior Managing Director, DCM Shriram Ltd.,

Sumit Mazumder, Immediate Past President, CII and Chairman & Managing Director, Tractors India Pvt. Ltd.

Raghu Kailas, National Chairman, Young Indians and Managing Director Unimo Exports Pvt. Ltd.

Mark Runacres, India Advisor to the Confederation of British Industry moderates a power-packed business leaders panel at

CII’s annual conference on The Future of UK-India Economic Relations on 6 July in London

Nearly 200 participants attended the conference from a cross-section of stakeholders – British, Scottish and Welsh

companies, Indian companies in the UK, and representatives from UK government departments like UK Trade and

Investment, Department of Business Innovation & Skills, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK Intellectual Property

Office and others. Chambers of commerce such as the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and the Commonwealth

Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) joined, as did representatives from several foreign chambers. Investment/ development agencies and City Councils from various regions, and academics from R&D Institutions

and universities, and media representatives also attended the conference.

Interactions at Westminster

The CII delegation held a meeting with Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne, Minister of State for Department for

International Development, discussing ways to collaborate in capacity building and skills partnerships. At various

occasions, including one-on-one meetings and an exclusive India interaction at the House of Commons, the

delegation met Seema Malhotra MP, Alok Sharma MP, Valerie Vaz MP, Lord Karan Bilimoria, Baroness Virginia

Bottomley, Mark Pritchard MP, Bob Blackman MP, Stephen Timms MP, among others. The bi-partisan interaction

of CII leadership with MPs and Peers in Westminster, across party lines, held in collaboration with the Indo-British

APPG, and supported by Grant Thornton, infused new ideas and energy. MPs and Peers were presented with India

Meets Britain 2016, a report on fastest growing Indian companies in the UK which boast a collective turnover of

GBP 26 billion, highlighting the contributions of 800+ Indian companies in the UK that support 110,000 jobs.

CII CEOs delegation interactions with Members of Parliament MPs and Peers at House of Commons. Photos L-R: CII CEOs

delegation with Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne MP, Minister of State for International Development; Lord Karan Bilimoria

moderates the CII India interaction with MPs and Peers; CEOs delegation meets Seems Malhotra MP and Hamish Sandison –

Labour Business; Dr Naushad Forbes, President, CII with Mark Pritchard MP; Delegates interact with Baroness Virginia

Bottomley and Alok Sharma MP; CEOs delegation at Thames Pavilion, House of Commons with MPs and Peers.

CII’s 121st Anniversary Reception

The interactions with MPs and Peers were

followed by a grand CII reception in the evening

at The Cloisters, Westminster Abbey, a majestic

and historic venue, to celebrate CII’s 121st

anniversary.

A select group of very special guests from

government, industry and institutional partners

were invited to join the celebration.

Rt Hon Hugo Swire, Minister of State, Foreign and

Commonwealth Office, addresses the CII reception

on 6 July at The Cloisters, reaffirming the

commitment to strengthen India-UK ties further.

Forging New Partnerships

India and the Commonwealth connection:

Following on from the first day of conferences

and government engagements, the second day

was packed with a number of meetings. The

delegates interacted with the Commonwealth

Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC),

facilitating SME partnerships and meeting new

CommonwealthFirst Export Champions, a

group of 25 innovative, mid-sized business who

will soon be on their first trade mission to India,

which will be supported by CII. Rt Hon Hugo

Swire, Minister of State for the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office, Mr Oliver Everett, Chief

Executive Officer, CWEIC, Mr Deodat Maharaj,

Deputy Secretary-General, The Commonwealth

and the CII leadership addressed the gathering

at Marlborough House. One of the CommonwealthFirst Export Champions, selected for the India trade mission supported by CII, displays their

innovative equipment for its application in infrastructure

Exploring Science and Tech Solutions for Societal Challenges:

A meeting at the Royal Society brought forth

science and technology applications for

meeting India’s societal and development

challenges. President, Venki Ramakrishnan,

Treasurer Prof Anthony Cheetam, Foreign

Secretary Sir Martyn Poliakoff addressed the

delegates and Prof Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya,

Chairman, Warwick Manufacturing Group also

joined. The delegates discussed utilising India’s

academic institutions as ground-breaking R&D

hubs, fellowship exchanges, satellite imaging

for agricultural monitoring, and other

applications in manufacturing and technology

excellence.

Prof Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya meets the CII CEOs delegation at Royal Society. Delegates discussed the application of science

and technology solutions for societal challenges.

Strengthening Industry-Academia Exchanges:

CII and International Unit collaborated on an Industry-University roundtable with Vice Chancellors/ Pro-VCs/ Deans

and academics from 15 leading UK universities, including several from the world-renowned Russell Group. Hosted

by Dame Nicola Brewer, UCL Vice-Provost (International), University College London, the interaction focused on

India-UK Industry-University Collaboration – discussions ranged from education policy and reversing the decline

in Indian students at UK universities, to enhancing academic collaboration by means of faculty, student as well as

intern exchanges, resolving to explore the

possibility of a joint internship program.

CII CEOs delegation meets with academics,

Chancellors, Pro-VCs and Deans from 15 world-

renowned UK universities. The interaction was held

in collaboration with International Unit and hosted by

Dame Nicola Brewer, Vice Provost (International),

UCL.

Understanding the Fintech Landscape:

In the afternoon, the Lord Mayor, Alderman the

Lord Mountevans of London hosted the CII

delegation at a CII-City of London FinTech

Investors Roundtable at Mansion House.

The discussion focused on the understanding

the evolving Fintech landscape in London,

benefits of investing in FinTech start-ups in

London as well as possibilities of innovation–

based collaboration with India.

CII CEOs delegation with the Lord Mayor and guests on 7 July at Mansion House

Linkages with London:

The delegation also met the recently appointed

Deputy Mayor of London, Mr Rajesh Agrawal,

and held an in-depth discussion on the

implications of Brexit on Indian companies in

the UK and in India.

The Deputy Mayor assured the CEOs that their

team was working ensure that London remains

open for business, and part of the single

market. The collective understanding was while

businesses await clarity in emerging policies,

there is an opportunity in adversity and that

strengthening India-UK ties would now be

imperative.

Seated: Deputy Mayor of London, Rajesh Agrawal and Dr Naushad Forbes, President, CII

Encouraging Entrepreneurship:

The final meeting of the day was at Buckingham

Palace with HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York.

The Duke of York was optimistic about the UK’s

economic and strategic future post-Brexit and

about developing the India-UK economic

relationship further.

The delegates discussed ongoing work under

“Pitch at Palace” foundation, set up to support

Entrepreneurs from around the globe with

acceleration of their business ideas through

mentorship and network-building.

HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York greets Dr Naushad Forbes, President, CII and the CEOs delegation at Buckingham Palace

Reception at India House

His Excellency Navtej Sarna (seated centre), High Commissioner of India to the UK, hosts a dinner reception for the CII CEOs

delegation on their annual visit to London on 7 July at India House.

As a grand finale for the CEOs delegation to the UK, HE Navtej Sarna, High Commissioner of India to the UK hosted

a dinner reception for the business leaders at India House. Expressing his desire to hear from the CEOs, he urged

each one to share their candid views and observations through the course of the mission and on the way forward

for the collaborative partnership between the two countries.

While some of the delegates expressed concern and urged to remain on the side of caution, the majority was

optimistic and positive, keen to seize the moment, albeit uncertain, and made a case for both side to make sincere

efforts, at the government as well as industry-level in forging deeper bilateral economic ties in order for both sides

to rise stronger, together.

CII in the UK: Shuchita Sonalika

Director and Head – UK | Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

C/O Confederation of British Industry (CBI) | Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6HN

Phone (UK Office): +44 20 7395 8076 | Email: shuchita.sonalika@cii.in | Web: www.cii.in/uk