ciii ceos uk mission report - july 2016
TRANSCRIPT
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: [email protected] | Web: www.cii.in/uk