Taking place 1-5 March, the Northern Asian Power Mission: India, will bring together the UK and India business community, alongside industry experts and trade partners, to explore opportunities for bilateral trade and collaboration.
International collaborations will play a crucial role in the Government’s ‘levelling up agenda’, and we recognise that India is a key partner for the Northern Powerhouse. Trade and investment are critical to ensure sustained economic growth, and this five-day mission will go towards expanding and deepening our trade relationship with India.
"The event is truly bilateral in nature", said Sharon Jandu project director. "Promotion has been across the North of England and through a network of business organisations in India. Our aim is to ensure the sector masterclasses have thought leadership and networking, so that northern businesses can have conversations with Indian businesses in the breakout rooms, we want to encourage business relationships."
Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India: “The Northern Powerhouse is already a significant pillar of the living bridge connecting our nations – from India’s best and brightest studying in the Northern universities to the droves of Indian football fans who support the teams from the region. And this is in addition to the over 100 Indian businesses in the north who contribute enormously to our shared economic interests. I’m delighted to be participating in this event; 2021 is going to be an important year for the UK-India partnership, both bilaterally and on the world stage.”
Rakesh Sinha MP (pictured), Rajya Sabha Member Of Parliament (Rajya Sabha, the Upper House) Indian Parliament:"There is a huge potential of intellectual collaboration between India and Britain. People of both nations developed understanding with each other in historical process of togetherness. Both nations can together give joint leadership, not only to Commonwealth but also world by common efforts using human and natural resources."
Lakshmi Kaul, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII): "As per the recently launched, CII Britain Meets India Tracker report 2021 developed in partnership with Grant Thornton, we have identified 572 British companies in India. With UK being 6th largest investor in India. CII has been championing regional India partnerships for a number of years and it is therefore exciting to be able to introduce UK SMEs to Indian markets via the Northern Asian Power Mission, that we hope will encourage UK businesses to consider the many opportunities for investment in India. CII with its wide presence across India would be keen to offer ongoing support to these companies and encourage them to consider partnerships and investment opportunities in India.”
Dr. Jatinder Singh Director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry : “The Northern Asian Power-Mission 2021: India is aptly timed. This can prove to be the fountainhead for unleashing business and trade potential between India and UK post Covid with multiplier effect for economic growth, creating new job opportunities and investments in multiple sectors.”
Viraj Kalra, Co-Founder, Open Brackets Learning: "Post-Covid 2020s will globally require special initiatives and vehicles to catapult us back to an upward growth trajectory. Open innovation and hyper-collaboration will prominently emerge as two tools to enable this revival objective. And NAP mission is once such initiative that shows promise in becoming a 2020s case-study in fuelling much needed innovation, collaboration, and communication by simultaneously stimulating influencers across trade, commerce, academia and institutions."
The event features six industry targeted trade masterclasses with representatives from the UK and India business community, trade bodies and professional services. It will take place online from Monday 1 March until Friday 5 March.
Programme of events
DAY 1 – Monday 1 March
Northern Asian Power Mission Launch – A Focus on India
Hear from Graham Stuart MP, Lord Bilimoria, Lord Waverly, Roger Marsh OBE DL, Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, Rakesh Sinha MP, Rajya Sabha Member Of Parliament, Dr. Jatinder Singh Director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other high-profile speakers from India and across the Northern Powerhouse and India.
DAY 2 – Tuesday 2 March
Creative Industries and Culture Masterclass
Chaired by Kully Thiarai, Creative Director and CEO, Leeds2023 and Nicky Chance-Thompson DL, CEO, Piece Hall with speakers Dr Param Shah, Director, FICCI, Raman Kalra, Partner, PwC India - TMT: Entertainment, Media & Sports, Sally Joynson, Chief Executive, Screen Yorkshire, James Mason, Chief Executive Welcome to Yorkshire Anand Bhatt Chief Executive and Artistic Director Dance City, Vikas Kumar MBE Director GemArts etc.
Healthcare & Life Sciences Masterclass
Chaired by Professor The Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, with speakers Dean Fathers, Member of the Academy of Healthcare Science Regulatory Board, & Non-Executive Director of NeedleSmart, Tim Newns, Chief Executive, MIDAS, Dr Param Shah, Director, FICCI etc.
DAY 3 – Wednesday 3 March
Food and Drink Masterclass
Chaired by Lord Bilimoria, President, CBI, with speakers , Hannah Kendrick, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, Ian Wright, Chief Executive, Food and Drink Federation, Lakshmi Kaul, Head & Representative - UK, CII Nagma Ebanks-Beni MBE - Commercial Director - Prima Cheese Ltd
Industrial and Advanced Manufacturing
Chaired by Mr. Deepak Pahwa, Chairman, Innovation Committee, PHDCCI; Chairman, Pahwa Group and Managing Director of Bry-Air (Asia) and speakers from June Smith, Regional Director – North, Make UK, Karen French, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, Dr Jatinder Singh, Director, PHD Chamber, Lakshmi Kaul, Head & Representative - UK, CII, Professor Mike Maddock, Managing Director, Performance Engineered Solutions, Mr. Arun Kumar Jha, Director General, National Productivity Council, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, GOI
DAY 4 – Thursday 4 March
Technology and Digital Markets
Chaired by Brian Archer, Director of Economic Services, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, with speakers including Jeremy Pilmore-Bedford, Deputy High Commissioner – Bangalore, Sherin Mathew, CEO & Founder, AI Tech North, Julian Wells, Director, FinTech North, Dr Jatinder Singh, Director, PHD Chamber, Nick Kaimakami, Executive Vice President & Head EMEA & USA, Prime Focus Technologies , Zandra Moore, CEO & Founder, PanIntelligence , Viraj Kalra CEO Whiteladder Consultancy , Stuart Clarke, Director, Leeds Digital Festival, Nigel Jones, Sector Specialist - Tech, Digital and Creative, DIT
Energy
Chaired by Henri Murrison, Director, Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Stephen Young, Executive Director for Economic Growth, Lancashire County Council, Miranda Barker, Chair of RedCAT (Lancashire Centre for Alternative Technologies), Ged Heffernan, Director of River Power Pod Ltd, Melissa Conlon, Commercial Director, from AMRC North West, Ian Wood, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, Nick Helm, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
DAY 5 – Friday 5 March
A Celebration of Diversity & Women in Business Event
Chaired by Paula Grizzard, Founder, She Business and Heather Waters, National Enterprise Manager for Women In Business, NatWest with speakers Louise Knutsson, Managing Partner & Founder, MatchesTalent, Jordan Dargue, Investment Director, North Invest, Karina Jadhav, Founder & Owner, Menagerie Restaurant & Bar, Bhairavi Sonowal, Director, HED Healthcare
Click here for more information and to register.
