UK India Business Council expands its operations in India, opens in Bangalore

UK India Business Council (UKIBC) is a business-led organisation promoting bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. Its mission is to facilitate an increase in trade between the UK and India through business to business dialogue. In a new development, UK India Business Council has opened its second business centre in Bangalore, within a year of the launch of its first centre in Gurgaon. The creation of the UK India Business Centre in Bangalore is part of UKIBC’s expansion strategy to connect UK companies active in, or wanting to enter, Bangalore and South India to local business keen to work with British companies.

The UK India Business Council will work closely with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the British Business Group Bangalore, and with both UK and Indian businesses and institutions. The Centre will support businesses across sectors, but tech-rich sectors are likely to be favoured. The 12,600 square feet Bangalore Centre will be the UK India Business Council’s largest in India, and there are already signed in clients, including British Airways, the UK trade body Aerospace & Defence Security Systems, CDC and TechHub Bangalore, the community and workspace for tech entrepreneurs, which is using the UKIBC centre to establish its entry into India. The UKIBC has also signed a MoU with TiE Bangalore.

Addressing the gathering, Patricia Hewitt, Chair, UKIBC said-

We are delighted today to be opening the second UK India Business Centre in Bangalore. This is a great city, in which many British companies are already thriving, particularly technology-focussed companies. Having Tech Hub within our Centre will help create ever more UK-India tech collaborations. This is an incredibly interesting and positive time to be in India, and UK businesses share the fresh optimism among Indian corporates. With the new government there are high hopes for a truly investment- friendly business environment. We are opening our second Centre in the right place, and at the right time to cater to the rise in interest, especially among UK based SMEs wanting to explore the Indian market.

The Centre is part of a global initiative by the UK Government to strengthen British business networks in 40 overseas markets and is designed to transform the quantity and quality of support available to British businesses, especially SMEs, seeking to enter or expand in India. The facilities, which are available to all UK companies, include office space, meeting facilities, hot-desking, event space and a Launchpad® service. UKIBC plans to set up 6 business centres in India by 2017.

Website: UKIBC

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