A new India All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) was launched in the UK Parliament to strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors, including trade, technology, healthcare, and education. The launch was celebrated during an “Indian Summer” event, coinciding with South Asian Heritage Month, at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Room in the Houses of Parliament.
The cross-party India APPG will be co-chaired by Lord Karan Bilimoria and British Sikh Labour MP Jeevun Sandher, with Baroness Sandy Verma as President. Speaking to Asian Voice, Lord Karan Bilimoria discusses co-founding APPG India, engaging with stakeholders such as governments, businesses and much more.
What motivated you to co-found the new India All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), and what are your primary goals for this initiative?
A few years ago, we established the UK-India Trade and Investment APPG. However, we recently decided to consolidate these efforts into a single APPG for India, covering every aspect of the bilateral relationship, including trade, business, investment, culture, migration, security, education, and health. With India emerging as a global superpower, the world's fastest-growing major economy, the most populous country, and soon to be the third-largest economy, it is crucial for the UK to prioritise its relationship with India. This APPG will play a vital role in fostering and strengthening ties across all these areas, promoting closer collaboration between our parliaments and governments. In my prediction, by 2060, India is poised to become the world's largest economy, making this relationship even more significant for the UK.
How do you plan to engage with stakeholders from both governments, businesses, and academic institutions to achieve the APPG’s objectives?
I refer to governments at both the national and subnational levels. In the UK, this includes the devolved administrations and the mayors of various regions and cities. Similarly, in India, it encompasses the governments of all the states and union territories. The APPG will host a regular series of events in Parliament, serving as the primary point of contact for every visiting delegation from India—whether ministerial, state, or business. As a cross-party group with members from the House of Commons, House of Lords, and independent crossbenchers like myself, the APPG will facilitate these interactions, enabling visiting delegations to engage with parliamentarians in Westminster. This will enhance our understanding and engagement with India. Additionally, we will lead parliamentary delegations to India.
How will the APPG measure its success and impact in promoting the bilateral relationship between the two countries?
We will work closely with the Indian High Commissioner in the UK, the Deputy High Commissioners, and the Trade Commissioner for South Asia in India, maintaining strong links and regular contact. Whenever the UK High Commissioner visits India, they will engage with the APPG, meeting with parliamentarians to stay informed on the latest developments. The success of our efforts will be evident in the level of engagement we foster. A key focus will be assisting with the completion of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which has been under negotiation since January 2022, during my tenure as President of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). After 14 rounds of negotiations, we are now nearing the conclusion of the FTA, and the APPG will actively support its finalisation. Beyond that, our role will extend to ensuring the FTA is fully implemented and utilised by businesses and all sectors of the economy to maximise its benefits.
What are your hopes for the APPG’s influence on UK-India relations over the next few years?
As the primary parliamentary organisation focused on UK-India relations, the APPG is uniquely positioned to serve as the central point for strengthening ties between our two countries. It is crucial for our parliamentarians to be deeply engaged with India, both in Parliament and in their constituencies, where they can promote the UK-India relationship and highlight the vast opportunities in trade and investment. Currently, UK-India trade stands at approximately £39 billion, but we should aim to significantly increase this. The APPG will play a vital role in promoting trade, business, and investment, as well as fostering university partnerships, educational exchanges, and tourism. This is a bilateral effort that will benefits both nations.
