Hosted By

Chair:
Nitin Jaiswal, Head APAC, Bloomberg

Cleantech offers immense potential to shape sustainable development. It is crucial to empower cleantech pioneers and catalyse the widespread adoption of sustainable solutions as well as address the unique challenges facing the sector including access to funding, regulatory barriers, and scaling the technology. This discussion will explore the untapped opportunities within the cleantech sector, shedding light on emerging trends, breakthrough innovations, and transformative solutions.

• How can we establish a comprehensive funding framework to empower cleantech pioneers and drive widespread adoption of sustainable solutions?
• What emerging trends and breakthrough innovations are shaping the cleantech landscape, and how can they be leveraged to accelerate sustainable solutions?
• How can collaboration between stakeholders in the cleantech sector lead to effective knowledge sharing, resource mobilisation, and scalability of sustainable solutions?

Hosted By

Chair:
Ravi Chidambaram, Founder, RIMM

In an era of increasing focus on sustainability, understanding and measuring the impact of organisations goes beyond conventional ESG metrics. Sustainable investing grew by 15% in 2020 and 90% of CEOs today believe that sustainable practices are essential for success. This dialogue will delve into the broader landscape of sustainable impact measurement, exploring innovative approaches to assess social, environmental, and economic outcomes. It will also brainstorm new ways to effectively measure and report sustainable impact beyond traditional frameworks, enabling organisations to showcase their commitment to sustainability in a transparent and meaningful way.

• Amidst the misplaced emphasis on reporting as a compliance tool, how can organisations effectively integrate and report their sustainable impact to address the evolving needs and expectations of stakeholders, investors, and customers?
• Given that ESG is fundamentally about the cost of externalities in operating your business, how can it be priced?
• Can good ESG make you a more resilient and successful business in the long run?

Hosted By

Energy transition is crucial to achieve global emission reduction goals and to combat climate change. Developing nations are often at a disadvantage when it comes to energy transition due to lack of resources and support. The role of businesses in supporting energy transition in developing nations is crucial to achieve a sustainable future. In this dialogue, we will explore the challenges and strategies of collaboration between businesses, policymakers, and civil society organisations.

• What are the key challenges faced by developing nations in their energy transition efforts, and how can businesses contribute to overcoming these challenges?
• What role do financial institutions and international organisations play in providing resources and support for energy transition in developing nations, and how can their involvement be strengthened?
• What strategies and initiatives have proven successful in promoting energy transition in developing nations, and how can they be scaled up and replicated?

Hosted By

Chair:
Karan Mohla, Partner, B Capital

Climate change poses a grave threat to the world, particularly to developing countries that face heightened vulnerability to its impact. It is important for experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to come together and explore innovative solutions that can mobilise resources to finance climate projects in developing countries. With a focus on blended finance, impact investing, and green bonds, this dialogue will explore practical strategies to accelerate the development and implementation of climate projects.

• How can public-private partnerships be strengthened to enhance the mobilisation of resources and financing for climate projects in developing nations?
• What practical strategies and best practices can be adopted to accelerate the development and implementation of climate projects in developing nations, ensuring their effectiveness and long-term sustainability?
• What are the key challenges and barriers in accessing finance for climate projects in developing nations, and how can these challenges be addressed through innovative financing mechanisms?

Hosted By

Chair:
Prof Manoj Ladwa, CEO and Chairman, India Global Forum

With today’s uncertain global dynamics and the various societal, economic, and environmental challenges facing world leaders, it is crucial to map out the key priorities for joint purposeful leadership between the UK and India. This dialogue will convene stakeholders from both countries to examine the evolving landscape, identify critical issues, and share insights on the effective strategies and qualities needed for purposeful leadership in the UK and India.

• How can the UK and India lead with purpose?
• What should be their key priorities in an era of growing geopolitical tension and slowing economic growth in much of the world, if not in India?
• In navigating uncertainty, what qualities and characteristics do leaders need to cultivate to inspire positive change, foster resilience, and drive meaningful impact in their communities?

Hosted By

Chair:
Lord Jitesh Gadhia

India's large youth population and workforce present immense growth potential, but youth unemployment at 18.5 per cent poses a significant challenge. The British Asian Trust and BT Group will convene business leaders at the Social Impact Boardroom 2023 to address the skills gap and transition from school to work, focusing on youth and gender equality.

• What is needed to enable corporate participation in this area?
• What cost-efficient investments are companies making to address this school to work transition and how can these initiatives enable greater finance and corporate participation?
• How can we bring long-term outcome orientation to our programming, and use principles of results-based approaches to showcase case studies that are impactful, market-driven and fit- for-purpose?

Hosted By

Supported By

Chair:
Amish Tripathi, Director, Nehru Centre
Sir Steve Smith, UK, Minister and International Education Champion, UK

The widespread global impact of education lends itself to strengthening and furthering the UK-India partnership in education and skills, fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable growth for their workforces. Their joint efforts have already created numerous high-profile and long-standing bilateral co-funded partnerships from basic to higher education. This dialogue will examine how these initiatives can be developed further to forge stronger pathways in educating and skilling a global workforce.

• How can we promote existing partnerships such as TNE to develop and support the establishment of UK universities in India?
• How can we further explore successful initiatives, exchange best practices, and unlock opportunities for cross-country cooperation by amplifying programmes such as the India-UK Skills Partnership and Gender Equity across basic to higher education?

Hosted By

In an era where technology reigns supreme, the potential for transformative change within government departments offers boundless possibilities for both the UK and India. This dialogue convenes private sector players and key figures from the Labour Party to unravel how cutting-edge technologies, including AI, can revolutionise the way government functions, amplifying efficiency, driving better outcomes, and delivering exceptional value to the taxpayer. Join the conversation and explore uncharted territories where innovation and governance intersect to chart a course towards purpose-led leadership.

• What strategies can be employed to ensure that technology and artificial intelligence (AI) facilitate and support more efficient government?
• What are the key considerations and challenges in leveraging technology and AI to power government functions and how can they be addressed?
• What are the current experiences of the UK and India in implementing technology in this area and how can the two countries learn from each other?

Hosted By

Chair:
Ankita Vashistha, Founder, StrongHER Ventures

Female professionals and entrepreneurs face unique challenges at work, from cultural biases to limited opportunities for promotion to getting access to capital. Join us for a thought-provoking dialogue as we convene with like-minded entrepreneurs and experts to gain valuable insights and identify strategies to create a more equitable and inclusive business environment for women everywhere.

• From practical strategies for raising capital to navigating the funding landscape, how can we unlock funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs amidst the unique challenges they face?
• How can we build strong networks of support and empower women entrepreneurs and professionals to achieve their goals and expand their enterprises?

Hosted By

Hosted By

Shared geopolitical challenges are creating a huge opportunity for closer collaboration between the UK and Indian defence sectors. This dialogue will explore further opportunities in this exciting field and key pillar of the UK-India partnership.

• Which geopolitical challenges are creating opportunities for closer collaboration between the UK and Indian defence sectors?
• In which aspects of defence technology and capabilities can the UK and India explore further collaboration?
• What challenges exist in facilitating defence technology transfer and manufacturing partnerships between the UK and India?