UK set to bring biggest ever delegation to Bengal Global Business Summit 2023

Anna Shotbolt, the UK’s Deputy Trade Commissioner to South Asia will accompany the High Commissioner to BGBS.

A 55-strong delegation of senior figures from a wide range of businesses and institutions will represent the UK at BGBS in Kolkata on 21-22 November 2023, according to the press release issued by the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata.

British Deputy High Commission Alex Ellis said: “I am greatly looking forward to leading the UK’s largest-ever delegation to the Bengal Global Business Summit in Kolkata, including learning about West Bengal’s pioneering green transition, for the electrification of its public transport system. I hope the summit will help British businesses to expand here and that companies from Bengal can enhance their footprint in the UK.”

Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India, said: “I would like to congratulate the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee and the Government of West Bengal for hosting the BGBS this year. Within days of my arrival in Kolkata, I’m delighted to have Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India leading one of the largest foreign delegations to BGBS 2023. 

"The UK-India 2030 Roadmap agreed by our Prime Ministers promised to transform trade and investment between the UK and India.  That’s what we are here to do.”

The UK, in collaboration with the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will facilitate a ‘B2B (Business-to-Business) UK Country session on ‘Building a Net Zero Future’ along the sidelines of the summit at ITC Sonar on 21 November, the press release said.

These discussions will enable participants to identify opportunities for future collaboration, research and innovation, and facilitate the expansion of trade
and investment.

The UK is also organising a ‘Green Adda on a Tram’ with climate experts in Kolkata on 20 November.

The experts will participate in rich, insightful discussions on how to build on the already enriching partnership towards reducing emissions and creating new jobs.

"The UK-India partnership is well and truly ‘Alive with Opportunity’. The Alive with Opportunity campaign which was launched earlier this month, is designed to showcase the strong bond between our two countries and further build on the continuous exchange of people, ideas and culture," read the press release.

As part of the UK’s ambitions to double trade with India by 2030, this campaign aims to stimulate interest and demand for UK goods and services, increase UK's ability to grow their business through trade with India and attract new Indian inward investment.