Indian companies in the UK, took a Business delegation to Manchester, collaborated on a UK visitor visa policy report, and even supported HM Queen's 90th birthday celebrations! Exhausting as it may be, the best is yet to come.

1. Chairman, CII National Committee
on School Education & Mentor &
Chairman Emeritus, Fortis Healthcare
India; visited UK from17th–24th
January 2016.
The prime objective of this endeavor
was to encourage a cross fertilization of
ideas and to benefit education as a
whole on both a national and
international level. Besides the visit at
BETT, the delegates had fruitful
interactions at UKTI, HOK and Aldridge
Foundation's Academy School.
17-24 January, London, Canterbury, Cambridge
CII School Education Delegation
CII National Committee on School
Education took a 15 member
delegation of school heads and
senior Indian corporate management
officials for their participation at the
world's leading technology based
school education conference called
BETT. Conferences were held in a
number of cities across England and
included the Indian committee having
interactive meets with their UK
counterparts in several schools in
Canterbury and Cambridge. The
delegation, led by Mr Harpal Singh,
It has been an exciting 6 months for
CII – UK. We have seen a directional
shift from major big bang programs
to smaller, more strategic and
focused programs, engaging
stakeholders in the India-UK
relationship in various categories.
We hosted Minister of Finance and
Minister of Renewable Energy from
the Government of India, supported
state Government of Odisha's efforts
for investment promotion, arranged
meetings for our members
companies to better understand the
UK economy and politics at play,
organized sector business
delegations in education and
healthcare, briefed UK business
about changes in the Indian
economy and financial budgets, held
meeting with members of
Parliament, worked on programs
supporting infrastructure financing,
launched a report to spread the
good word about the fastest growing
Indian companies in the UK, took a
Business delegation to Manchester,
collaborated on a UK visitor visa
policy report, and even supported
HM Queen's 90th birthday
celebrations! Exhausting as it may
be, the best is yet to come.
19 January, London
CII-Kotak Investor Roundtable
with Mr Arun Jaitley
CII in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd co-organized an Investor Roundtable with
Mr Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance, Corporate Affairs, Information & Broadcasting,
Government of India on 19 January in London with medium-long term institutional investors
in the UK.
Decision-makers from over 35
leading Foreign Institutional
Investors including Investec Asset
M a n a g e m e n t , J u p i t e r A s s e t
Management, BMO Global Asset
Management, Fidelity Investments
I n t e r n a t i o n a l , B l a c k r o c k
International Limited, Columbia
Threadneedle Asset Management,
among others, were represented.
Finance Minister Jaitley interacted
with senior members of the investor
community in the UK and addressed
their concerns pertaining to
regulation in registration process for
FIIs and ease of doing business,
Goods and Service Tax (GST), land
acquisition and fiscal consolidation,
in addition to briefing them on
opportunities in the National
Infrastructure Investment Fund.
CII in the United Kingdom:
Strengthening India - UK
Economic Relations
S U M M E R N E W S L E T T E R 2 0 1 6

2. CII supports Government
of Odisha – Investor
roadshow and sector
roundtables
4 February, London
CII India Business Forum UK Meeting
with incoming High Commissioner,
H.E Navtej Sarna
2 March, London
Union Budget of India - A Briefing for
the UK Business Community
CII in collaboration with the High Commission of India organised an
event analysing the recently announced Indian Budget for
2016-2017 at India House.
The briefing was meant for the UK business and investor community
and was well attended by more than 100 senior level representatives
from the UK businesses, UK corporate houses operating in India, UK
Government and media.
The panel analysed and presented its views on the Budget, discussing
emerging commercial opportunities in India and its implications on
India-UK business relations. The resounding response was largely
positive and the ensuing interaction covered a range of issues such
as India's focus on the rural sector, incentivising entrepreneurs and
recapitalisation of banks.
2 March, London
Panel discussion for investor roadshow “Opportunities in Odisha”.
Seated L-R: Mr Kevin McCole, COO, UKIBC, Mr SK Singh, Special Secretary,
Department of Industries and MD, IDCO, Government of Odisha,
Mr Sanjeev Chopra, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries & Chairman,
IDCO CMD, IPICOL Government of Odisha, Mr Debi Prasad Mishra, Hon’ble
Minister of Industries & School Mass Education, Government of Odisha, Dr
Virander Paul, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK, and Mr D S Ravindra
Raju, Chairman, CII Odisha State Council and Whole Time Director, Paradeep
Phosphates Limited.
CII-HCI panel discussion analysing the Indian budget at India House.
Seated L- R: Moderator Ibukun Adebayo, London Stock Exchange, Deepak
Lalwani, LalCap, Philip Bouverat, Director, JCB, Anuj Chande, Partner and Head
South Asia Group, Grant Thornton, John Copley, Senior Vice President, Strategy &
Future Programmes (Aerospace), Rolls-Royce and Prashant Jhawar, Chairman,
Usha Martin
CII collaborated with the Government of Odisha, High Commission
of India and the UK India Business Council to organise an investor
roadshow “Opportunities in Odisha” on 4 February in London.
A delegation from the state government of Odisha and CII's Odisha
membership was organized for the purpose of promoting investment
in the Eastern state, and stopped in several cities across the UK
including London, Ashford, Derby and Coventry.
Mr Debi Prasad Mishra, Minister of Industries & School Mass
Education, Government of Odisha led the state government
delegation. Mr D S Ravindra Raju, Chairman, CII Odisha State
Council and Whole Time Director, Paradeep Phosphates Limited led
the CII delegation.
CII supported Scottish Development
International (SDI) for a “Make in India”
seminar on 17 February in Edinburgh to
highlight opportunities of collaboration
between India and Scotland. Nearly 40 small
and mid-sized local companies participated in
the program and several expressed interest in
learning more about doing business
in India.
17 February, Edinburgh
“
and Opportunities of
Collaboration for Scotland
Make in
India Week
“
CII member companies, including the Tata Group, State Bank of
India, Air India, Wipro, ICICI Bank, EXIM Bank, Ty-Phoo and others
shared about their UK operations, investments and employment at
this exclusive meeting. Mr Prashant Jhawar, Chairman, CII-IBF UK, &
Chairman, Usha Martin thanked the High Commission for its support
and highlighted the collaboration of CII with the High Commission.
He also shared a copy of India meets Britain, a report of the fastest
growing Indian companies in the UK, with the High Commissioner.
The CII India Business Forum members held their first introductory meeting with the
new incoming High Commissioner of India to the UK, H.E Navtej Sarna on 2
March at India House.

3. CII India Business Forum UK –
Meeting with Mr Alok Sharma
Mr. Sharma has been appointed as the UK Prime Minister's
Infrastructure Envoy to India and keenly looks forward to engaging
with opportunities in India. Mr N Shankar, co-chair of the CII India
Business Forum UK, and Vice President and Country Manager – UK &
Ireland for Tata Consultancy Services chaired the meeting,
congratulating Mr Sharma on his recent appointment and offering
institutional support.
MP Alok Sharma welcomed CII members, and highlighted his
priorities as UK Prime Minister's recently appointed Infrastructure
Envoy to India – the three most important being to raise finance in
London for Indian infrastructure projects, work towards delivering
infrastructure bonds for India (including the much awaited masala
bonds), and to work closely with the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF).
CII members expressed their views around talent mobility in the UK
following the recommendations of the Migration Advisory
Committee and associated increase in capital cost for Indian
companies operating in the UK. Ease of doing business in the UK was
also discussed with the most prominent issues surrounding grant of
visas and opening bank accounts.
25 April, London
CII Green Investors
Roundtable and dinner
with Mr Piyush Goyal
CII organized a Green Investors roundtable discussion and dinner
with Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for
Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, Government of India,
bringing together over 50 interested and invested stakeholders in the
UK-India relationship in the renewable energy sector on 19 April in
London.
Minister Goyal emphasized huge potential for the UK and India to
work together in the renewable energy space to fulfil PM Modi's vision
of providing affordable and sustainable energy to all by 2019. He
further spoke of innovations in LED technology and electric vehicles
as game-changers in this space.
CII led a strong 12 member industry delegation accompanying the
Minister and members included Mr Rahul Munjal, Managing Director,
Hero Future Energies; Mr Ratul Puri, Chairman and Managing
Director, Hindustan Powerprojects Pvt Ltd; Mr Deepak Amitabh
Chairman and Managing Director, Power Trading Corporation of
India Ltd and Mr Ravi Kailas, Chairman, Mytrah Energy.
19 April, London
CII IQ Healthcare/ Lean
Six Sigma Delegation
CII-Institute of Quality organized a Lean & Six Sigma Mission to the
United Kingdom, focused on Healthcare and hospital administration
18-22 April, London, Lancashire, Liverpool
CII India Business Forum UK members met Mr. Alok Sharma, Member of
Parliament for Reading West, on Monday, 25 April at Portcullis House, Westminster.
India meets Britain: CII-Grant Thornton
report on the fastest growing Indian
companies in the UK
28 April, London
India Meets Britain 2016, a report by Grant Thornton in
collaboration with CII, on the fastest growing Indian companies in
the UK was launched on 28 April in London.
Investors and businesses in renewable energy at the CII Green Investors roundtable
with Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal and Renewable Energy,
Government of India on 19 April in London
Dr Jacki Bene, CEO, Bolton NHS FT welcomes the delegation to The Bolton NHS
Foundation Trust, Farnworth, near Bolton, on 20 April in Greater Manchester
from 18-22 April 2016. The delegation aimed to learn more about
best practices in UK hospitals in an effort to improve quality and
standards.
The delegation visited a number of Hospitals in London and in
Liverpool, interacting with private and NHS establishments,
academics and professionals in Hospitals and with University
faculties, to determine the latest thinking in quality and efficiency
management.
Members of the delegation included Dr Murali, Head of clinical
services, Manipal Hospitals (Mission Leader), and representatives
from Narayana Hrudayala Hospital, Anexas Europe, KLE University's
Jawarharlal Nehru Medical College, Medical Trust Hospital, SKS
Hospital, Star Hospitals and Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals.

4. CII supports City Week – International
Financial Services conclave
“Financing Prime Minister Modi's
Infrastructure Plans”
Lending strength to its India-related discussions, CII supported the panel
discussion on “Financing Prime Minister Modi's Infrastructure Plans”.
The panel deliberated overall scope of opportunity and models of
financing India's infrastructure projects, including capital raising in
global markets and emerging masala bonds. The discussion also
brought to light the UK's commitment to supporting three smart cities
in India, Pune, Indore and Amravati, and emphasised the power of
transformation through green infrastructure which have a bearing
on environmental and climate change considerations.
10 May, London
The report, which monitors high-growth Indian businesses operating in
the UK, showcases the extent of Indian companies' contributions to the
UK economy. It illustrates that the combined turnover of the top 62
high- growth businesses have increased by £4 billion in the last year,
up from £22 billion in 2014 to £26 billion in 2015. These
organisations provide thousands of jobs, contribute to the UK through
business tax and are leading innovators in their respective fields,
highlighting the special relationship between India and the UK.
India Meets Britain 2016, a report by Grant Thornton in collaboration with
CII, on the fastest growing Indian companies in the UK was launched
on 28 April in London.
CII supported City Week 2016 held from 9 – 11 May at the Kia Oval in London.
City Week, as the premier gathering of the international financial services
community.
In 2016, The Queen marked her 90th birthday, and the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was one of the
organisations featured in the official commemorative
publication for The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration at
Windsor Castle.
In addition to celebrating the life and reign of The Queen, the
publication showcased a selection of organisations in the UK
and Commonwealth, or with strong ties to Britain. These
organisations were drawn from educational, cultural, social,
technological and business spheres.
The story of Indian companies in the UK was highlighted in this
feature, and CII's member companies, Rolta Ltd, Air India and
Cadila Pharmaceuticals were also showcased.
“CII is India's apex industry association, and we were
approached by publisher St James's House with an invitation to
appear in the event's official commemorative album,” said
Shuchita Sonalika, Director and Head – UK, CII. “We were
invited based on our good editorial fit for the project, and it's a
great honour to be part of this historic celebration.”
The album was gifted to VVIP and VIP guests at Windsor Castle
during the period of 12-15 May 2016.
13 May, Windsor
CII participates in The Queen's
90th Birthday Celebrations and
Commemorative Album
Rt Hon Hugo Swire, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs delivered a keynote at the session. The panel discussion
moderated by Philip Bouverat, Director, JCB included Alok Sharma MP,
UK Prime Minister's Infrastructure Envoy to India, Ali Hassan, Senior
Representative, Dubai International Financial Centre and Vivek
Abraham, Invest India and Shuchita Sonalika, Director – UK, CII.
Make in India, Innovate with Manchester a significant event took
place the city’s Town Hall on 22 June, bringing together Indian
businesses interested in trading with India and Indian businesses
seeking collaborative opportunities in Greater Manchester. The
event, hosted by MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency
(part of Manchester Growth Company) and the High Commission of
India, was supported by the Confederation of Indian Industry, UKTI
and Deloitte. The objective of the program was to better understand
the bilateral trade, export and R&D collaboration opportunities
presented by Prime Minister Modi’s initiative and how the city region
is strengthening ties with India. India is a critical market for the UK in
terms of inward investment, outbound export, education and
22 June, Manchester
Make in India, Innovate in Manchester

5. A new report published by the Royal Commonwealth Society in
partnership with leading aviation tourism and industry groups
including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), recommends
that India is added to the UK’s latest £87 two-year visitor visa
scheme. The reform would help reverse the UK’s falling market share
of global Indian tourists, which has halved over the last decade. The
5 July, London
Tourism Visa Policy Report:
Calls for a 2-year,
£ 87 UK visitor visa for Indian Nationals
tourism. EY UK Attractiveness Survey 2016 revealed India was one of
Manchester’s key markets for foreign direct investment and it is clear
that Indian businesses are investing in the city. More specifically some
of India’s key companies have invested in the region, these include
Aegis, Vistaar Productions at MediaCityUK, Hero Cycles, State Bank
of India and recently, HCL Technologies’ innovation partnership with
Manchester United Football Club. Manchester is one of the active
centres in the country in diverse areas of trade and investments, life
sciences and healthcare and higher education. Greater
Manchester’s heritage in innovation and science, which has seen the
region being recognised as European City of Science 2016, make it
the ideal partner for Make in India. The universities expertise in areas
such as advanced materials and manufacturing, 3D printing and life
sciences provides unparalleled R&D opportunities for both industry
and educational establishments.
Key speakers at Make in India, Innovate with Manchester included
Tony Lloyd, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Tim Newns, Chief
Executive of MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency,
Professor Luke Georghiou, Vice-President for Research and
Innovation, University of Manchester, and Shuchita Sonalika,
Director - UK, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). CII’s India
Business Forum UK delegation participated at the event and included
senior representatives from Air India, State Bank of India, V-campus,
ITC Infotech and Times of India.
Tim Newns, chief executive of MIDAS, said: “Greater Manchester has
traded with India since the Victorian era and Make in India, Innovate
with Manchester provides us with the opportunity to collaborate and
take this relationship to the next level. Greater Manchester has the
skills and expertise in innovation, through our universities and
private companies, to support India’s ambitions whilst also fuelling
the ambitions of our local companies and research institutions which
can add significant value. Shuchita Sonalika, Director - UK, CII made
a presentation on the upcoming Tech Summit, a major bilateral
India-UK initiative to promote technology and knowledge-driven
trade, investment and partnerships, which will be held from 7 – 9
November in Delhi.
Panel discussion on Make in India, Innovate in Manchester. Seated L-R:
Prof Luke Georghiou, Director of Policy Research Programme. Innovation,
Management and Policy Research, Manchester Business School,
Jo Ahmed, Partner, Deloitte LLP, Shuchita Sonalika, Director and Head – UK, CII
and Prof Nigel Mellors, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Enterprise, University
of Salford.
estimated cost to the UK economy is almost £500m per year and
over 8,000 jobs. France has now leapfrogged the UK as India’s most
visited European nation, attracting 500,000 visitors from the
subcontinent in 2015. In October 2015, the Prime Minister, David
Cameron, announced a pilot scheme for a two-year UK-China
visitor visa costing £87. The report recommends that Indian
nationals have the same opportunity. At present Indian visitors
continue to pay a hefty £330 for a two-year visa, or £87 for six-
months. UK-Indian relations are strong. They share deep economic
and cultural ties – most notably through the Indian diaspora of 1.4
million. Indian business visitors also spent £201m in 2015; almost
three times the average spend on business trips to the UK. However
with the number of Indian tourists growing 10% year-on-year the UK
should be capitalising on its immense potential for attracting visitors.
The report, authored by Tim Hewish, Director of Policy and Research
at the Royal Commonwealth Society was launched on 5 July in the
House of Commons, supported by Nigel Huddleston, the Member of
Parliament for Mid Worcestershire, who said; “I believe that the
changes advocated in this report would help re-establish the UK as
the leading destination for Indian visitors by making a clear
statement that we are open for business.” Chandrajit Banerjee,
Director General, CII and Dr Naushad Forbes, President, CII
participated in a panel discussion and came out in strong support for
the policy and even suggested that India consider a reciprocal
arrangement. Next year offers the most opportune time to introduce
this change with 2017 designated the UK-India Year of Culture, also
marking 70 years of Indian Independence. Throughout 2017 both
nations will see a strong collaboration in business, art, music, design
and much more. Having a cheaper and extended UK visitor visa will
help enhance these endeavours.
The full report ‘A Passage from India - Improving UK visitor visas for
Indian nationals’ and an Infographic can be downloaded at:
https://www.thercs.org/assets/Research-/India-Visa-Report-online-
copy.pdf
https://www.thercs.org/assets/Research-/RCS-
IndianVisaInfographic-2pp-web.pdf
Panel discussion at the Tourism Policy report launch.
Seated L-R: Nigel Huddlest on MP - Mid Worcestershire, Deirdre Wells OBE Chief
Executive, UKinbound, Tim Hewish, Director of Policy and Research at the Royal
Commonwealth Society, Dr Naushad Forbes, President, CII and
Co-chairman, Forbes Marshall, & Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII.
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