The UKIndia Business Council is a membership-based, non-profit organisation founded in 2007 to foster trade and business relations between the United Kingdom and India. The organisation works with businesses in both countries, as well as the UK and Indian governments, to promote and increase bilateral trade. The UK India Business Council supports UK businesses with the insights, networks, policy advocacy, services, and facilities needed to succeed in India. They help UK companies achieve success whether they are well-established in India or in the early stages of their engagement. Working with the UK Government and other influential and connected partners, they ensure business interests are conveyed to India’s Union and State legislators. The UK India Business Council seek to influence decisions that will make it easier for UK businesses to operate in India. For those seeking practical advice, their team provide a range of sector-specific research, market entry and expansion services that help businesses understand – and take – the opportunities. Their membership network is at the heart of their support. Through a wide variety of events and member-only Sector Policy Groups, they enable businesspeople to meet each other, identify potential partners, suppliers and customers, and to learn from top business leaders and commentators, including those on the Advisory Council. UKIBC is a sister organisation to the UK-ASEAN Business Council The UK India Business Council is the sole accredited UK Government Overseas Business Network Initiative provider for India. UKIBC is accredited by British Chambers of Commerce and works in partnership with UK Trade & Investment.
History
UKIBC has its origins in the Indo British Partnership initiative, signed by then Prime Ministers John Major and P. V. Narasimha Rao in 1993. In 2005 this evolved into a private limited company called the 'Indo British Partnership Network. With the UKIBC receiving increased investment in 2007 from UK Trade & Investment under direction from then UK Chancellor Gordon Brown, Sharon Bamford was appointed CEO to oversee the transition of the organisation. The Rt HonPatricia Hewitt has been Chair of the UK India Business Council since 2009. Lord Karan Bilimoria, is the founding Chairman of the UK-India Business Council. Lord Mervyn Davies has been appointed as the Chair of UK India Business Council in July 2017.
Organisation and Leadership
In 2010, Richard Heald, former Vice-President of the Indian arm of N M Rothschild & Sons was appointed the new CEO of the organisation. Jayant Krishna, Tata Group veteran and former CEO of the National Skill Development Corporation, was appointed as Group CEO of UKIBC in 2020. UKIBC currently deals with nine major sectors, namely:
UKIBC provides sector-specific research and market entry-related services to help British companies understand the opportunities and make informed choices about their investment
Strategic partners
The UKIBC is partnered with major following companies -
