India is projected to invest $1.5 Trillion in the next 10 years. Recognising the great business opportunities this provides, the UK's world class capability, and the appetite within India to partner with UK companies, the UK India Business Council is establishing an Infrastructure Forum. The goal of the Forum is to encourage more UK companies to consider the Indian opportunity, provide the knowledge and networks needed to access the opportunity, and, working with partners at UKTI, CII, and FICCI, make the connections that lead to deals being done.
It is fantastic news that Terry Hill of Arup, Graham Cartledge of Benoy, Philip Bouverat of JCB and Martin Harman of Pinsent Masons have agreed to be the "Forum Champions", actively supporting our activities whenever they can.
To help deliver the objectives, we will organise a range of activities in the UK and India that will benefit companies new to India and those already in the market. These will include awareness raising seminars, workshops providing a deeper level of knowledge, roundtable discussions on policy and market access issues, surveys of business to establish areas of interest and concern, research reports and engagement with trade associations.
In addition to the work the UKIBC is doing with visiting Indian Ministers in early February, we have other events scheduled for the first few months of 2010:
- 27th January Introductory briefing and discussion with UKIBC members on Forum objectives and priorities. 16.30 - 18.00
- w/b 23 March New Cities and Special Economic Zones. A seminar to outline the expanding opportunities for UK Infrastructure companies, through the development of SEZ and new cities and towns being built around India.
- w/b 22 March An interaction with a visiting delegation of Indian infrastructure companies (tbc).
- 13 April A seminar with guest speaker Mr Narinder Nayar, Chairman of Bombay First and MD of Concast India Ltd to discuss the Trans-Harbour link
- w/b 10 May A road show highlighting Indian Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and the opportunities for UK infrastructure companies. This series will involve representatives of the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN) SEZ in Nagpur (tbc).
As the Forum evolves, its activities will increasingly be driven by its members. Our initial, enthusiastic feedback from business indicates that the following sub sectors might emerge most strongly: ports and transport, urban regeneration, and energy. Another key strand of activity will be working with the Indian Government to access PPP opportunities in roads, healthcare and education infrastructure.
The Forum will be managed by Caroline Erskine, who will be supported by the wider UKIBC team to deliver a programme of activities that will generate real value for UK businesses.
UK India Business Council
January 2010