Manchester India Partnership named trade an investment promotion organisation of the year at UK-India Awards 2018

23 June 2018

Categories: India

• Manchester India Partnership example of the best of the UK-India relationship
• Awards judged by leading panel including Sunil Bharti Mittal, Rt. Hon Priti Patel MP,
  Barry Gardiner MP and Lord Marland

Manchester India Partnership (MIP), a ground-breaking public-private partnership which capitalises on global trade, tourism and academic opportunities between Manchester and India, was presented with a Special Recognition Award at a star-studded ceremony on Friday 22 June for the second annual UK-India Awards.

MIP, which launched in the House of Commons and in Mumbai this February, and is chaired by Manchester Airport CEO, Andrew Cowan, received the Trade & Investment Promotion Organisation of the Year Award at the UK-India Awards 2018, which brings together and celebrates the innovative and path-breaking individuals and organisations that are making a significant impact on the strong global partnership between the UK and India.

MIP was categorised alongside a host of leading international development schemes, social impact funds, world-leading British cultural institutions and representative bodies for tech and digital clusters around the UK, for the second edition of the prestigious Awards.

Manoj Ladwa, Founder of UK-India Week and India Inc.

“The UK-India Awards is the perfect occasion to celebrate the bond between the UK and India and honour the remarkable people building on this winning partnership with their ingenuity, optimism and good will.

“I am exceptionally humbled by the commitment of our winners and the runners-up, who make the UK-India relationship a transformative and global partnership.”

Andrew Cowan, CEO, Manchester Airport and MIP chair  

“To win the Special Recognition Award is a testament to the work that has already taken place as a result of MIP. This includes securing a direct Manchester-Mumbai flight with Jet Airways and welcoming more leading Indian companies like Tech Mahindra and Hero Cycles into Greater Manchester’s Indian diaspora.

“This is a proud moment for the region and we look forward to the positive and sustained impact MIP will have on supporting the local economy, on tourism and how relationships between the business community and academia will be enhanced in years to come.”

This year, the inaugural UK-India Week saw senior figures from the UK and India convene for high-level engagements and celebrations of the bond between the two countries, including Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Rt. Hon Matt Hancock MP, International Trade Secretary Rt. Hon Liam Fox MP, Foreign Minister Rt. Hon Mark Field MP and Shadow Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon Emily Thornberry MP.

A highlight of UK-India Week (18 – 22 June), the Awards was judged by a panel of leading figures in business, technology, media, international trade and politics, including Lord Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council; Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises; Rt. Hon. Barry Gardiner MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade; Rt. Hon Priti Patel MP, former Secretary of State for International Development; Edwina Dunn, CEO, Starcount; and Barkha Dutt, Author and Broadcaster.