India Week London concludes with media and policy discussions
A series of UK-India conferences concluded in London on Saturday, with discussions spanning media, policy, business and film, as part of the wider India Week programme held from 26th to 30th May.
The independently organised initiative brought together more than 1,600 attendees from nearly a dozen countries across nine events, all of which were reported as sold out. The programme aimed to facilitate dialogue and collaboration across sectors linked to the UK-India relationship.
A key component of the final day included sessions organised by Talk Journalism, one of India Week’s partners, which featured a group of Indian journalists participating in discussions in London for the first time. Speakers included Rajdeep Sardesai, Smita Prakash, Suhasini Haider, Saurabh Dwivedi and Kamlesh Singh, who addressed audiences in a series of sessions focusing on developments within the Indian media landscape.
The discussions examined themes such as shifts in journalism, audience engagement and the evolving nature of news coverage, drawing interest from a full-house audience at private members’ club The Conduit.
The broader India Week programme also included new initiatives this year aimed at strengthening economic and cultural ties. These included efforts related to Track 2 diplomacy, opportunities for global franchises to enter the Indian market in partnership with Franchise India, and initiatives to connect export-oriented Indian businesses with distributors in the UK.
The flagship Ideas for India conference, organised by think tank Bridge India, featured discussions on a range of topics, including India’s geopolitical positioning in an increasingly multipolar world, relationships within South Asia, and the global expansion of Indian businesses. Sessions also explored the role of Western media in covering regional and vernacular stories from India, as well as opportunities to increase investment in UK-India film co-productions.
The event series attracted participants from across sectors, including business, media, the creative industries and public life. Among those present were Sir Vince Cable, chef Atul Kochhar, film producer Monisha Advani, music producer Rishi Rich, Prince Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Lord Karan Bilimoria, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Karim Fatehi, and venture capitalists Raja Ganapathy and Stewart Langdon.
In addition, filmmakers of Indian origin from various regions attended as part of the Film Conclave, a co-production market that aims to connect creators with potential investors. The initiative is positioned as a dedicated platform in the UK for supporting film collaboration between India and international partners.
Organisers said the event series reflects continued interest in UK-India engagement across multiple sectors, with a focus on knowledge exchange, partnerships and cross-border opportunities.
LCCI CEO Karim Fatehi said at a joint reception that India Week was “the leading platform for UK-India trade and investment.”
The exclusive Black-tie Dinner featured over 250 guests and honoured businessman Manish Tiwari from Here&Now 365 with the Achievement in Business award, bhangra star H Dhami for Achievement in Entertainment, and Poonam Sharma from Barclays Eagle Labs for her work bringing British South Asian entrepreneurs together, with the Achievement in Community Service award.
Other partners of India Week included global education provider Regent Group and blindness charity Operation Eyesight Universal.
Curator of India Week Pratik Dattani said: “In a difficult geopolitical reality, the role of India on the global stage is changing. India Week is the leading such European non-politically aligned series of events, to bring India to the world. Our conversations extend across film, literature, journalism, business and public policy.”
London-based Indian entrepreneur, Sukhpal Ahluwalia, said: “India Week plays an important role in strengthening the relationship between the UK and India, not just commercially, but culturally and entrepreneurially too. There is still far more both countries can do together, and I want to play an active role in helping to drive that forward. As I spend more time on the ground in India over the coming years, supporting stronger cross-border relationships, businesses and opportunities will become an even bigger focus for me.”
