The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group organised an event showcasing Indian companies in the UK Houses of Parliament. They also launched the Manchester India Partnership to strengthen regional economic ties. Over 100 stakeholders attended, including representatives from Indian companies operating in sectors like technology, banking, manufacturing and more. Key figures expressed support for strengthening the UK-India economic relationship and hope that partnerships like this would help drive business and investment between the two.

1. 1 February 2018 Westminster

2. On 1 February 2018, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Indo-
British All Party Parliamentary Group organised a historic showcase of Indian
companies in UK at the Houses of Parliament with Grant Thornton and
launched the ‘Manchester India Partnership’ to enhance regional connect
CII and Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group organised a historic showcase of Indian companies in UK
at the Houses of Parliament with Grant Thornton, and launched the Manchester India Partnership.
Standing L-R: His Excellency Shri YK Sinha, High Commissioner of India to the UK, Lord Jim O'Neill, Baroness
Rona Fairhead, Minister of State for International Trade, Rt Hon Matthew Hancock, Secretary of State for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Virendra Sharma MP, Chair, Indo British APPG, Dr David Landsman, Chair,
CII India Business Forum (UK) and Executive Director, Tata Limited, Andrew Cowan, CEO, Manchester Airport
Group, Shuchita Sonalika, Director and Head- UK, CII and Lakshmi Kaul, Representative- UK, CII
The ‘India in UK’ Showcase
The first of its kind historic showcase of high-growth Indian companies in the UK was held at the
Terrace Pavilion in UK Parliament on Thursday, 1st
February 2018 providing parliamentarians a great
opportunity to interact with several Indian business leaders and representatives from across the UK.
The programme, hosted by Virendra Sharma MP, Chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary
Group was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) supported by Grant Thornton and
Manchester India Partnership (MIP).
Key Dignitaries
Key dignitaries including HE YK Sinha, High Commissioner of India, Baroness Fairhead CBE, Minister
of State, UK Department for International Trade, Rt Hon Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for
Culture, Sports & Media, HE YK Sinha, High Commissioner of India, David Landsman, Chair, CII India
Business Forum and Executive Director, Tata Limited, Lord Jim O’Neill, Andrew Cowan, CEO,
Manchester Airport Group and Chair, Manchester India Partnership along with nearly 20 MPs and
Peers across party lines representing various constituencies and regions of UK attended the program,
reinforcing the narrative to strengthen UK-India ties further. Over 100 stakeholders including Indian
companies, parliamentarians, government representatives and institutional partners participated in
this unique event aiming to highlight the major success stories of UK-India economic cooperation.

3. Dr David Landsman, Chair, CII India Business Forum and Executive Director, Tata Limited welcomed
all the dignitaries and reflected on the increasing footprint of Indian companies across UK. He
remarked that there has probably never been more attention on the economic relationship between
the UK and India, as India undertakes significant market reforms and the UK prepares to leave the
EU. He showed how there is an essence of India Inc in everyday British life today and said that it was
time to put the spotlight on the huge contribution which Indian businesses make to the UK economy.
Rapid-fire Panel Discussion
Dr Landsman also moderated a rapid-fire panel discussion in game show style, where representatives
of high-growth companies spoke about their operations. The panel included Ms. Tara Naidu, Regional
Manager – UK & Europe, Air India, Mr. Udayan Guha, Senior Vice President, HCL Technologies, Mr.
Sudhir Dole, MD and CEO, ICICI Bank UK, Mr. Bhushan Patil, Senior Vice President – UK & Southern
Europe, Tech Mahindra and Mr Sreeram Venkateswaran, CEO, Hero Cycles UK. Outlining the
business footprint across the UK, panellists highlighted their investments, employment and regional
presence across the country, institutional collaborations and interesting achievements or initiatives.
The Numbers and Stories
Highlights from two reports, CII-Grant Thornton “India Meets
Britain” tracker and CII-UKIBC “India in the UK: India’s
business footprint in the UK” were shared on the day. A
presentation outlining the key results of the Fourth edition of
the Grant Thornton “India Meets Britain” tracker developed in
collaboration with CII was made by Anuj Chande, Partner and
South Asia Head, Grant Thornton which revealed how 800
Indian companies in the UK sustain 110,000 jobs and generate
GBP 47.5 billion in combined turnover. The major sectors of
their operations include Technology and telecoms,
Pharmaceuticals and chemicals, Business services, Financial
services, Engineering and manufacturing, Energy, Media,
Healthcare, Automotive, Transport and Logistics, Hospitality
and Tourism, Food and Beverage and Education. They are most
concentrated in the London region, with 44% of Indian
companies based in the capital. Nearly a quarter are based in
the South, while 15% are in the North and 11% in the Midlands.
Mr Virendra Sharma MP, Chair Indo
British APPG opens the floor at the CII
‘India in UK’ show
David Landsman moderates a rapid-fire panel discussion in
game show style with TechMahindra, HCL Technologies, Air
India, ICICI Bank and Hero Cycles
Anuj Chande, Partner and South Asia
Head, Grant Thornton shares results from
India Meets Britain tracker

4. Support for stronger India-UK ties
HE YK Sinha, High Commissioner of India to the UK emphasised the need for such interactions to
highlight Indian success stories and generate more positive news about the increasing footprint of the
Indian companies in the UK and the strengthening of UK-India relationship.
Rt Hon Matthew Hancock, Secretary of State
for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport attended
the programme and expressed his passion and
commitment to strengthening collaboration,
particularly in sport, culture, digital and media
fields between the two countries. He applauded
celebrations under the UK-India Year of Culture
and said that he was very optimistic about the
future of India-UK relations. Digital innovation
and technology and broadcast media have
greater scope for collaboration. He also recalled
taking the first British Parliamentary cricket
team on a tour of India!
David Landsman presented him with a
“Cracking the Code t-shirt, which marked the
launch of the Tata Group’s TCS and NESTA UK
mathematics program. NESTA UK was
established as the National Endowment for
Science Technology and the Arts, designed to
promote creativity, talent and innovation
across a wide spectrum of areas and interests.
David Landsman presents Secretary of State for Digital
Culture Media and Sport, Rt Hon Matt Hancock, with a
“Cracking the Code t-shirt, which marks the launch of
the Tata Group’s TCS and NESTA UK mathsprogram
I am happy to note that the CII and the Indo-British APPG are jointly promoting Indian businesses and
companies in the UK. Indian companies have contributed immensely towards the growth of the UK economy,
creating wealth and a large number of jobs. I would like to convey my best wishes on the launch of the
Manchester India Partnership and would be happy to extend support to this initiative.”
– HE Shri YK Sinha, High Commissioner of India to the UK

5. Congratulating the CII and MIP,
Baroness Rona Fairhead, Minister
of State for International Trade
congratulated the CII on organising
the showcase of Indian companies
in Westminster. “You need to hear
the numbers to realise how
significantly Indian companies
have invested and how good that is
for job creation and for innovation
in our country”, she said. She was
delighted to see several regional
stakeholders, especially from the
North, gather and celebrate the
Greater Manchester region’s
involvement in the Manchester-
India partnership, which she
believed would play a big role in
enhancing the wider UK-India
relationship. Baroness Fairhead
addressed the India in UK showcase in Westminster, ahead of her first official visit to India. This was
her first interaction with Indian industry in the UK Parliament as Minister for International Trade.
The Manchester-India Partnership
Manchester-India Partnership (MIP) was launched in the presence of High Commissioner Sinha,
Minister Matt Hancock, Baroness Rona Fairhead, Lord Jim O’Neill and Andrew Cowan. As a public
private initiative aimed at building closer ties with India, the Partnership encompasses the full scope
of country to city interaction: trade, investment, science and innovation, connectivity and culture.
Chaired by Andrew Cowan, CEO, Manchester Airport, the MIP leadership team consists of senior
representatives of Manchester’s business, university and public sector; the intent being a joined-up
and strategic approach to one of the UK’s most important international partners. Founding partners
of Manchester-India Partnership are Manchester Airport Group, Deloitte, Growth Company, MIDAS,
Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership and the CII. Lord Jim O’Neill while launching the MIP
remarked “The Manchester India Partnership is an exciting initiative, which recognises the rising
importance of international cities in forging strategic international partnerships. India is one of the
world’s largest and fastest growing economies; it therefore makes eminent sense for Manchester to
further develop its’ air connectivity, trade, science and cultural links with this emerging global power.”
“Many Indian companies have set up base in Greater Manchester,
including HCL Technologies, ICICI Bank, Hero Cycles and Tech Mahindra
– whose success stories demonstrate the strength and potential of the
Northern Powerhouse. I am excited to see what the future holds for this
natural partnership.”
– Baroness Rona Fairhead, Minister of State for International Trade
Lord Jim O’Neill (left) speaks of the importance of regional connectivity, while Andrew Cowan, Chair of the
Manchester-India Partnership and CEO, Manchester Airport Group emphasises the need for direct flight
routes between India and Manchester.

6. An Exhibition Walkthrough
A walkthrough exhibition of Indian companies such as Tata, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies, ICICI,
Union Bank, Hero Cycles, Air India and Varana World represented the diversity of sectors where
Indian companies operate including Technology, Manufacturing, Services, Banking & Financial
Services, Tourism, Fashion and Luxury products.
Glimpses from the exhibition and the walkthrough with Baroness Rona Fairhead, Minister of State for
International Trade, where she stopped to interact with exhibiting companies.
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