INDO BRITISH PARTNERSHIP NETWORK LAUNCHED
(5 December 2005)

The Indo British Partnership Network was officially launched at Asia House in London on 5 December 2005, the eve of the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport visiting India to sign the UK/India Co-Production Treaty; a formal framework for cooperation between the British and Indian creative industries.

The Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian Pearson MP and HE Shri Kamalesh Sharma, the High Commissioner for India, launched the IBPN as an organisation which encourages and facilitates business with India. It will reach out to companies of all sizes, with a particular focus on SMEs. The IBPN is supported by UK Trade and Investment, the UK government organisation that supports British companies doing business internationally.

The IBPN was incorporated in April of this year under the chairmanship of Karan Bilimoria, Chief Executive of Cobra Beer. The newly formed Board of 24 members consists of leading UK businesses actively engaged in Indo-British commerce.

"The creation of the IBPN is an important step in ensuring that British companies are well placed to do business in India, this most emerging of the emerging markets" said Ian Pearson MP, Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs.

Chairman Karan Bilimoria said "The relationship between Britain and India is a strong and special one, and the IBPN will work proactively to help significantly increase trade, business and investment between Britain and India both ways. The potential for our two great nations is enormous."

"India's rapid integration with the globalising world economy is bringing in its way many changes of immense significance and fresh opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships and alliances between India and the United Kingdom. The burgeoning prospects of cooperation across the entire spectrum of economic activity from agriculture to manufacturing, services and the knowledge-based industry will hopefully be progressively realised through many initiatives between the two countries and the Indo-British Partnership Network will no doubt make an important contribution towards taking the bilateral economic relations in their entirety to new levels." HE Shri Kamalesh Sharma, the High Commissioner for India.

THE INDO BRITISH PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

The origins of the IBPN date back to 1993 when the creation of the Indo-British Partnership Initiative by the then British and Indian Prime Ministers was agreed. This entity has subsequently evolved to be called the Indo-British Partnership.

Its principal mandate is to increase bilateral trade, business and investment between the two countries. It is backed by both governments and chaired by leading industry figures. Current Co-Chairmen are Mr Sunil Mittal (Chief Executive, Bharti Enterprises) and Mr Karan F. Bilimoria CBE, DL (Founder & Chief Executive of Cobra Beer) representing Indian and UK industry respectively.

Since 1993 it has achieved:

• UK-India bilateral trade of goods and services growth by almost 120% to £6.3bn;
• The UK is India's fourth largest trading partner after the US, China and EAE;
  • UK has achieved the third largest share (9.8%) of inward investment approvals over this time;
  • Over 2000 new Indo-British joint ventures have been approved;
  • The UK is India's second largest market for IT services ($1bn)

Major items of trade in goods include:

• UK Exports: Non-metallic minerals, gold, power generating and telecoms equipment, transport equipment, and industrial machinery
• UK Imports: Textiles, gems and jewellery, footwear, metals, organic chemicals, vegetables and fruit

The IBPN was incorporated as a private limited company in April 2005. A Board of 24 members has been formed comprising of representatives from leading UK companies from a variety of sectors, including finance, healthcare, accountancy, IT services, tourism, education and other affiliated organisations including UK Trade and Investment, the CBI and Business Link. Asia House, a leading pan-Asian organisation committed to broadening business and cultural links between Asia and the UK, following a competitive tender, was appointed to manage the Secretariat of the IBPN.

Objectives of the IBPN include:

• To establish an organisation and networking forum open to all British companies interested in furthering trade and investment between the UK and India
• To represent the views of British business at the annual meeting of JETCO (The UK and India Joint Economic and Trade Committee)
• To identify ways for British SME's to better access trade and investment opportunities in India
• To encourage and support Indian companies to invest in the UK
• To inform HMG of private sector views on Indo-British bilateral trade and investment issues

The IBPN is supported by UK Trade & Investment and works closely with UK Trade and Investment and the British High Commission in India.

IBPN Chairman

Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL - Founder & Chief Executive Cobra Beer, UK Chairman Indo British Partnership

IBPN Board Members

• The Hon Apurv Bagri, Managing Director Metdist Ltd
• Chris Baker, Vice President and Head of Consulting Oracle Corporation UK
• Sandra Brusby, Chief Executive Officer Business Link Cheshire and Warrington
• Gautam Dalal, Partner KPMG
• Chris Francis, Chief Executive Cardionetics
• Anthony Good, Chairman Cox and Kings Ltd
• Martin Graham, Director of Market Services/Head of Aim London Stock Exchange
• Toby Greenbury, Partner Olswang
• Martin Harman, Partner Pinsent Masons
• Barry Humphreys, Head of Government Affairs Virgin Atlantic Airways
• Ken Hunt, Business Advisor UK Trade & Investment
• Sid Khanna, Global Managing Partner Accenture
• Richard Meddings, Group Executive Director Standard Chartered Bank
• Frances Moffett-Kouadio, Head South Asia Unit UK Trade & Investment
• Alpesh Patel, Managing Director Agile Partners Asset Management Limited
• Roopa Purushothaman, Global Economist Goldman Sachs
• Andy Scott, Director, International Confederation of British Industry
• Julian Stretch OBE, India Consultant UK Trade & Investment
• Judith Unwin OBE, Head of UK and Nordic Export BNP Paribas
• Parminder Vir OBE, Business Ambassador Creative Industries
• Shai Vyakarnam, Director Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, University of Cambridge
• Graham Ward CBE, Senior Partner, Global Energy and PricewaterhouseCoopers Utilities
• Richard Wolff, Director, International and UK Outlets Marks & Spencer

Further information can be found at www.ibpn.co.uk