IGF’s role as the agenda-setting platform that brings India to the world and the world to India has never been more important, relevant or indeed impactful, as reflected in a series of power-packed deliberations over the past year. Through our Founders and Funders Forum, over 450 leaders from global tech and innovation ecosystems interacted with our IGF platforms, including our summit in Bengaluru which brought together over 60 Indian Unicorn founders in an engaging “Townhall Style” discussion with India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman.

It was during IGF’s Reimagine@75 themed UK-India Week 2022 that Rishi Sunak, then UK Chancellor, made a rather prescient address that would be followed by a flurry of events ending in his elevation as Britain’s first Prime Minister of Indian heritage. His impassioned words as a member of the UK-India living bridge will no doubt continue to define this particular corridor over the course of this year and beyond.

At the annual ‘Partners for Global Impact’ themed UAE summit, there was much to celebrate given the signing of the historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE. India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, set the tone for the very “intuitive” bond between the two sides, something IGF will remain steadfast in focussing on and fostering.

Taking a wider-angle view on 2022, what stands out is IGF’s championing of key global priorities – from sustainability and climate action to diversity and inclusion. The learnings from our expert interactions over the year have led to some long-lasting outcomes, including a Women in Leadership Network (WIN), UK India Future Forum, World Climate Institute and many more such agenda-setting initiatives that have into fruition on the back of a very eventful past year.

As we look ahead, India’s presidency of the G20 and its proven track record as a bridge between East and West, North and South, rich and poor will be thrust into the limelight. I am excited and confident that IGF will intensify its efforts at continuing to facilitate stimulating exchanges between policymakers, business leaders and innovators to capitalise on the opportunities and deliver impactful change.