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As preparations for the Eighth IIFA Weekend get underway, the International Indian Film Academy announces The FICCI- IIFA Global Business Forum to be held in association with Yorkshire Forward, the regional development authority on the 7th of June, 2007, as part of the IIFA Weekend, in Leeds.
The Business Forum will concentrate on promoting bilateral trade between India and the UK, bringing together CEOs, business leaders, government officials and policy makers to discuss opportunities for India and Britain with a special focus on Yorkshire. It is designed as a cross-border think-tank, with the IIFA Weekend as the springboard. Entrepreneurs, Captains of industry, CEOs and policy makers will join the discussions.
Audiences have been invited from a cross section of British industries and the senior representatives of KPMG, PWC, Standard Chartered, HSBC, Barclays, Fortis and UBS, Lloyds TSB, JCB, Accenture, Business Link Cheshire and Warrington, Eversheds, Reuteurs, UK Trade and Investment will be a part of the Business Forum. Other delegates will comprise of leaders from Idea Cellular, Tata-Corus, BP, Arcelor Mittal, Fortis healthcare, Wockhardt Pharmaceuticals, Eros International, Adlabs, Reliance, Aditya Birla Group, Max Healthcare, Asianet, Emaar, Godfrey Philips, Apollo Tyres, amongst others.
The inaugural session of this power packed Global Business forum, 2007 will feature presentation of dignitaries from London and the Indian business fraternity. It will be addressed by Mr Habib Khorakiwala, President, FICCI, Lord Karan Billimoria, Chairman of the Indo-British Partnership Network along with other eminent speakers including Mr. Tom Riordan, CEO, Yorkshire Forward, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, High Commissioner of India, Sir Michael Anthony Arthur, British High Commissioner to India and Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General FICCI.
Discussing the economic benefits of the IIFA Weekend, Tom Riordan, chief executive at Yorkshire Forward said: “Events such as the IIFA Weekend will bring an economic boost to the Yorkshire and Humber region. Our expectation is that the event alone will bring nearly £10m in tourism spend. But the Awards will also act as a catalyst to access a new market. It will forge stronger business and cultural links between Yorkshire and India, which is now one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Trade events such as the Global Business Forum will promote and strengthen international trade opportunities, supporting our region’s export industries and stimulating inward investment.”
Following the inaugural session, the forum will move into attention-grabbing sessions addressed by esteemed panelists and speakers covering various sectors. The
Key sessions would be
- Clean Energy: Fuelling the Future
- Environment and Sustainable Development
- ICT & Telecom
- Entertainment: Forging Business Partnership
- India as a Manufacturing Hub for UK Business
- India: The Next Destination for Agri Business
- Healthcare, Pharma & Biotechnology: The Indian Advantage
Highlights of the Forum would witness Mr. YK Modi, Past President, FICCI and Chairman & CEO, Great Eastern Energy Corporation Ltd, Mr. Philip Bouverat, Director, JCB amongst other panelists concentrating on the session “Building Partnerships between India and UK” promoting bilateral trade between the two countries and forging stronger business and cultural links between India and UK.
Emphasis will be given to delegates from corporations involved with greening the world, in response to the environmental damage and climate change. Two key sessions in the business forum are dedicated to the issue of climate change, giving prominence to Clean Fuel Technology and Sustainable Environment. It would highlight Indo-UK energy cooperation in clean fuels, more specifically natural gas and renewable energy options.
A session on ICT & Telecom will have panelists like Mr. Sanjeev Aga, MD Idea Cellular, Mr. Sanjeev Puri, MD, ITC Infotech Ltd amongst others and will focus on India’s capabilities in the ICT sector, potential of the ICT market in UK and discussion on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between India and UK.
The FICCI – IIFA Global Business Forum is a place for big ideas, international business and networking - exploring opportunities available in the Indian Media and Entertainment sector. Thus, the entertainment session will showcase various opportunities available to global businesses in Indian entertainment sector. Speakers in this session includes eminent personalities from the entertainment industry like Mr. Parminder Vir, Ingenious Media, Mr. Kishore Lulla, Eros International, Mr. Ronnie Screwvalla, Chairman, UTV, Mr. Raaja Kanwar, VP, UFO Moviez to name a few.
Other sessions would also concentrate on building partnerships between India and UK promoting bilateral trade between the two countries. Investment opportunities in the growing Food Processing and Agribusiness sectors in India and focus on the key strengths of the Indian Healthcare and Pharmaceutical industry will be other areas of discussion.
The grand closing moments of The Global Business Forum will bring on renowned Mr. Praful Patel, Honorable Union Minister for Civil Aviation who would deliver the valedictory address.
The Business Forum is being spearheaded by IIFA, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), India’s apex business chamber, in association with Yorkshire Forward, The Indo British Partnership Network, the Confederation of British Industry, UKTI, the Indian High Commission and the British High Commission in India.
IIFA represents the interests of the Indian film industry and through the IIFA Weekend (7-9th of June) and the IDEA IIFA Awards reaches out to film-lovers across the world, with a special emphasis on Indian cinema fans. The IIFA works closely with government to build community engagement, business and trade, tourism and cinema ties. Previous IIFA Weekend and Awards presentation ceremonies have been held in Dubai, Amsterdam, Singapore, South Africa and Malaysia, and this year they will be held in Yorkshire.