UK India Business Council held 6th Annual Reception on Sustainable Development and recommends the UK and India become partners of choice in achieving their net-zero targets.

New Delhi, March 24, 2025: The UK India Business Council held the 6^th Annual Sustainable Development Alliance (SDA) reception, titled “Sustainable Development – The Role of Responsible Business”. The event was attended by Lindy Cameron, CB, OBE, British High Commissioner to Republic of India and Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, and other dignitaries.

India and the United Kingdom have complementary approaches to sustainable development. Both countries consider businesses essential drivers of change. The SDA initiative, an iteration of UKIBC’s Socio-Economic Impact (SEI) campaign, underway since 201, was launched in 2023. It provides a platform for businesses and other organisations to engage with policymakers, share success stories, and forge partnerships for progressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India.

UKIBC launched its March 2025 edition of Better Together report that showcases India’s progress and pathways on SDGs across national and state levels. India has made significant strides in improving across multiple pillars, such as: Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), amongst others.

As the Report details, UKIBC’s consultations with its members show that UK companies in India are integrating SDGs into the core of their business operations alongside their CSR commitments – working with partners across private sector, academia, government and civil society. British businesses are helping to driving sustainable development, from climate action and poverty reduction to improving education, health, and access to clean water and sanitation.

To enhance this collaboration, we make 3 clear recommendations in our Report:

• The UK and India must be partners of choice on net-zero, leveraging UK’s advanced technology ecosystem and India’s scale, expanding R&D collaborations that can be scaled for global impact.
• Jointly address SDG priorities like food security, healthcare, and inclusive growth by activating business-led platforms under the UK-India CEO Forum and Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).
• Create a progressive policy environment that helps unlock private sector investment for SDGs.

Lindy Cameron, CB OBE, British High Commissioner to Republic of India, said, “I congratulate the UK India Business Council on the success of their Sustainable Development Alliance, highlighting the positive contributions of British businesses in advancing India’s sustainable development goals. Prime Minister Starmer and Prime Minister Modi have agreed to take forward an ambitious UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to take the relationship to new heights: this includes collaboration on climate, technology, trade and investment – all areas where industry and industry bodies like the UKIBC have an important role to play.”

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, said, “As India moves towards a $5 trillion economy, towards the SDGs and the vision of Viksit Bharat, strong social-impact based partnerships with the private sector, premised on the ethos of sustainability and climate resilience, will be critical — especially in expanding opportunities for women and marginalised communities. The UN in India has been collaborating with UKIBC for the last six years to support their engagement with the private sector on driving these important results. Together, we can ensure progress reaches everyone, leaving no one behind, with India in the lead.

Richard McCallum, Group CEO, UK-India Business Council, said “With the Sustainable Development Alliance we are delighted to bring industry leaders and stakeholders together to chart the path towards sustainability. We understand that India’s Viksit Bharat – ‘Developed India’ @2047 – philosophy centres on interlinking economic growth with good governance, technological development, social welfare, and environmental considerations. India’s concerted efforts on sustainable development as part of its developmental planning, both at the national and the state level, are reflected in its continued progress towards achieving SDGs. The continued growth of the UK-India economic relationship offers tremendous potential for advancing the SDGs. With the much- anticipated FTA and refreshed Comprehensives Strategic Partnership, we look forward to an even deeper shared commitment on sustainability.”

About the UKIBC

UKIBC is a policy advocacy and strategic consulting not-for-profit, with a mission to grow the UK-India trade and investment. To do that, we provide strategic and practical support to businesses and universities to explore, enter, and expand in both markets.

We want to help more UK businesses to uncover opportunities and succeed in India. Business looking at the India opportunity need to develop a strategy based on factual market insights, and then implement that strategy. The UK India Business Council has the knowledge, networks, and people to help do this.

UK-India collaboration creates prosperity and jobs in both countries, and UK and Indian business have ideas, technology, services and products which improve lives. We work closely with the UK and Indian governments, the devolved administrations, England’s city regions, and State governments across India. We believe a strong UK-India economic partnership is a force for positive change globally.

For more information, please contact:

Nishtha Grover
Senior Manager – Communications, UK India Business Council
Mobile – +91 9818021223
Email- Nishtha.grover@ukibc.com