This year like each year, esteemed individuals from all sectors gathered at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel to recognise and celebrate the very best of Asian talent in the UK. I have attended the Asian Achievers Awards for the past seven years and I am consistently struck by the numerous ways Asians contribute to the UK.
As a solicitor dual qualified in India and UK, I have spent much of my career committed to bringing the two countries together. At both my former and current firm, I played an integral part in the formation of the India desk. With the Indian economy growing from strength to strength, my dual qualification offers an added advantage, as the Indian legal market is not yet open to international firms to set up their offices. Here, I feel I am bridging the gap between the two countries. I am a member of the board of the FICCI UK council and am closely associated with the High Commission of India.
The UK has strong economic ties with India, and recognises India as one of the most important bilateral investors. The number of Indian companies investing and doing business in the UK has risen by 5.25% from 2018 to 2019 and generated a combined turnover of £48bn. Similarly, India and the UK share strengths in financial services and technology, making India an obvious market for international growth. In 2018, an MoU was signed for enhancing bilateral cooperation in legal affairs which, inter alia, provides a framework for promoting greater cooperation between professionals in both countries through exchange of expertise and training.
Evidently, the strength and entrepreneurism of the Indian business community in the UK is growing year after year. Now in its 19th year, I hope to see the Awards continue well into the future - along with more industries doing their bit to embrace the Asian community and all it affords. So Asian talent is not only present in business, but celebrated and encouraged.
Rima is an Associate Solicitor at Lawrence Stephens in the Corporate and Banking practice, with a specific focus on the Indian market.
