The UK Trade & Investment India Business Awards 2009 were announced today at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai, attended by Indian and UK business leaders. The Awards uniquely celebrate India-UK business partnerships in terms of inward investment, collaborations, entrepreneurship and innovation. The Awards were presented by the UK Minister for Trade Investment & Business, Lord Davies of Abersoch, in the presence of the British High Commissioner in India Sir Richard Stagg.

Mr Shiv Nadar, Founder, HCL and Chairman, HCL Technologies, was presented the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Business Person of the Year Award in acknowledgement of HCL’s pioneering investment in the UK under his visionary leadership, and for his focus and direction in establishing HCL as a leader in the ICT industry in India.  

Reacting to news of the Award, Mr Shiv Nadar said: "UK holds a special place for us at HCL. It is where HCL pioneered the very concept of on-shore delivery with our investments in Northern Ireland.  Our work in the UK has grown not just in volume but in the value we are able to deliver to our partners in UK; and from UK to the rest of the world. About 90% of our Europe presence is out of UK. Many of our recent large transformational partnerships are with UK companies; and what I believe is a game-changing acquisition - Axon, is a UK company. We are proud now to be there as HCL-AXON. This itself speaks volumes about our wonderful experience of working in the UK and I am certain that there will be a similar growth path in the future. This award is an acknowledgment of our efforts in the UK and it is my privilege to receive it on behalf of 60000 HCLites across the globe, especially my fellow HCLites in UK.”

The UK Trade & Investment Special Recognition Award which recognises an individual who has made a unique contribution to UK/India bilateral trade and investment was awarded to Sir Anthony Bamford, Chairman, JCB. Since 2003 JCB has grown by over 400% in India. JCB has continually invested in bringing in new technology and skills and now has 50% share of the earth-moving equipment market in the country. The Award was presented to Sir Anthony in the UK by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Mr Kamal  Nath.

Speaking at the Awards, Lord Davies said: "These awards are about celebrating success. They recognise the enormous achievements made by businesses of all sizes. I congratulate the talented entrepreneurs who are bringing India and the UK closer together. Each one of the short listed companies has a great story to tell and is a superb example for the next generation of entrepreneurs waiting in the wings."

Winners under other categories were as follows:

Young Business Leader of the Year: Mr Glenn Saldanha, MD & CEO, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals for being instrumental in growing Glenmark from an India formulations business to a global  discovery research and international formulations firm with cutting edge R&D facilities in the UK. (Other final nominees: Mr Namit Malhotra, Prime Focus; Dr. Diwan Rahul Nanda, Tops Security)

Investor of the Year: Firstsource Solutions for becoming the sixth largest Indian investor in the UK through its presence in Northern Ireland and London. (Other final nominees: Alok Group,Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Prime Focus)  

Business Partnership of the Year: Dar Consultants,  leading consultants in infrastructure design and project management,  for their partnership with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) for the landmark Mumbai sea link. (Other final nominees HSBC with Canara HSBC Oriental Life Insurance;  Marks and Spencer with Reliance Retail Ltd; Rolls Royce with QuEST)    

New Market Entrant of the Year (India into UK): IMI Mobile for successfully managing the integration of intellectual property and business processes of Indian and UK operations to become the world’s largest independent global provider of testing facilities. (Other final nominees: Enzen Global Solutions; Jaivel Techno Services India Infrastructure Finance Co.)

New Market Entrant of the Year (UK into India): Pavers Foresight Smart Ventures for its investment in India including a unique R&D facility, just in time manufacturing and depots in 3 cities. (Other final nominees: BBH Communications; Turner and Townsend)

Green Innovation Award of the Year: Regenatec for developing an advanced technology through which a biofuel conversion system can be retrofitted to existing diesel engines. (Other final nominees: Ashok Leyland, Praj Industries)

Corporate Social Responsibility Award of the Year: Tata Steel for its community  initiatives in over 800 villages in Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, especially for disaster relief and abolition of  child labour.  (Other final nominees: Hindustan Unilever, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology)

British High Commissioner in India Sir Richard Stagg said: “The UK is the only country that has instituted Business Awards to recognize corporate partnerships with India, reflecting the very high importance to us of our relationship with India. As usual the entries for the Awards have been of an incredibly high standard.  My sincere congratulations to all the nominees and the winners”.

This year’s Awards Jury comprised  Mrs Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon, Mr S Ramadorai, CEO & MD, TCS,  Mr Kiran Karnik, Member, Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister, Mr Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus TIE,  Mrs Patricia Hewitt, Chairman, UK India Business Council, Mr Alpesh Patel, Dealmaker UKTI and Mrs Vicki Treadell, British Deputy High Commissioner, Western India.  

The UK Trade & Investment India Business Awards 2009 business partners were Cadbury’s Bournville, Cairn, Jaguar Land Rover, Grant Thornton, Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces, and some of the UK’s Regional Development Agencies: North West Development Agency, South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA), South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWERDA) and Yorkshire Forward.

Notes for Editors

For further information please contact Shireen Mistry on + 91 98200 13629 or email. 

Key UK - India facts:  

• The UK’s bilateral trade with India is worth over £12bn and has seen double-digit growth in the last year.
• The UK’s exports to India were up almost 30% in 2008 to £5.9bn while imports were up 17% in 2008 to £6.2bn.
• The UK is the biggest European investor in India and India is the biggest Asian investor in the UK.
• Over 600 Indian firms are represented in the UK, of which about two thirds are in information technology or software.
• Last year alone, almost 4,000 new jobs were created in the UK by Indian investment.

About UKTI:

• UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) http://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk is the UK government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed overseas and Indian companies to invest in the UK, acknowledged as the best place in Europe from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK and India.

17.9.2009

Communications & Public Affairs Department
British Deputy High Commission
Naman Chambers, Bandra Kurla Complex ,
Mumbai 400 051
Telephone: 022 66502235/6

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