UKIBC coordinated a high-level business delegation to India, led by Lord Bilimoria, UKIBC Chairman and Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, Trade and Invesmtent Minister. UKIBC also jointly coordinated events around Prime Minister Gordon Brown's State Visit, including the UK-India Entrepreneurs Summit and hosted a number of exclusive events throughout the trip.

The visit was effectively divided into two components:

• A business delegation, led by Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, Minister for Trade and Investment and Lord Bilimora, UKIBC Chairman and Founder of Cobra Beer
• Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s State Visit to India, accompanied by a UK business delegation

The business delegation accompanying Lord Jones and Lord Bilimoria had representation from various sectors including infrastructure companies such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers, JCB, Arup, Benoy, Mott McDonald and Scott Wilson Group, and advanced engineering including Airbus, BAE Systems, GKN, Rolls-Royce and Renishaw.

The ultimate objective was to increase Indian trade with and investment into the UK. This was achieved by raising the profile of the UK’s business capabilities, specifically within the advanced engineering, automotive and infrastructure sectors; the broad promotion of the UK as the premium investment choice for Indian companies; and lobbying around liberalization of the Indian economy and issues of market access.

During Gordon Brown’s first visit to India as Prime Minister alongside the official State Visit and subsequent meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he participated in a high-level panel discussion focused upon entrepreneurship and innovation.


The event had its share of influencial people

More information on the summit can be found at the UK India Business Council.