The UK’s largest independently organised UK-India conference series concluded on Saturday with headline sessions featuring some of India’s leading journalists, brought together in London for the first time at private members’ club The Conduit.
Organised by India Week partner Talk Journalism, the programme on Saturday 30 May featured candid, packed sessions with Rajdeep Sardesai of India Today, Smita Prakash of ANI, Suhashini Haider of The Hindu, Saurabh Dwivedi of The Indian Express, and Kamlesh Singh of India Today, focusing on India’s changing media landscape.
Held from 26 to 30 May, this year’s India Week attracted more than 1,600 attendees from nearly a dozen countries to nine sold-out events across London, drawing prominent figures from policy, journalism, business, and film.
This year also introduced several new initiatives, including efforts in Track 2 diplomacy, support for global franchises entering India in partnership with Franchise India, and opportunities for export-focused Indian businesses to connect with UK distributors.
Speakers and attendees included Sir Vince Cable, Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, film producer Monisha Advani, music producer Rishi Rich, Prince of Mewar Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Lord Karan Bilimoria, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Karim Fatehi OBE, and venture capitalists Raja Ganapathy and Stewart Langdon, among others.
At the flagship Ideas for India conference on Friday 29 May, organised by think tank Bridge India, discussions covered India’s role in a multipolar world, its ties with neighbouring South Asian countries, the global ambitions of Indian founders, how Western media can better report local and vernacular stories from India, and ways to increase UK-India film co-production investment.
Several filmmakers of Indian origin from around the world will attend to seek financing for upcoming feature projects through the Film Conclave, the UK’s only dedicated film co-production market.
At a joint reception, LCCI CEO Karim Fatehi OBE described India Week as “the leading platform for UK-India trade and investment.”
The exclusive black-tie dinner welcomed more than 250 guests and recognised businessman Manish Tiwari of Here&Now 365 with the Achievement in Business award, bhangra artist H Dhami with the Achievement in Entertainment award, and Poonam Sharma of Barclays Eagle Labs with the Achievement in Community Service award for bringing British South Asian entrepreneurs together.
Other India Week partners included global education provider Regent Group, blindness charity Operation Eyesight Universal, and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, part of India’s Ministry of Commerce.
India Week curator Pratik Dattani said, “In a challenging geopolitical environment, India’s role on the global stage is evolving. India Week is Europe’s leading non-politically aligned event series focused on bringing India to the world. Our conversations span film, literature, journalism, business, and public policy.”
London-based entre-preneur Sukhpal Ahluwalia said, “India Week plays an important role in strengthening UK-India ties not only commercially, but also culturally and entrepreneurially. There is still much more both countries can achieve together, and I want to help drive that progress. As I spend more time in India in the coming years, supporting stronger cross-border relationships, businesses, and opportunities will become an even greater focus for me.”
