Nasscom,  has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MIDAS (Manchester's Inward Investment Agency) and MAG (Manchester Airports Group) to promote innovation, investment, and technological exchange between Greater Manchester, in the UK, and India.

Nasscom, is the apex body for the $245 billion technology industry in India having 3000+ member companies constituting 90% of the industry’s revenue.

This MoU will lead to the establishment of the first nasscom launchpad in the UK, following its success in Canada.

The arrangement will provide small Indian tech companies, interested in setting up their presence in Greater Manchester, to have access to 180 days rent-free office space within offices based at Manchester Airport, where a number of tech-focused companies are already based. The companies will also be assisted with eco-system connects, introductions across stakeholders and other hand-holding mechanisms to aid in “Faster Go-To-Market”. Nasscom will actively promote the proposition among its membership base. 

“We are thrilled to expand our launchpad program in UK. I am confident that this will provide greater momentum to the Indo-UK trade ties. Specially when the two countries are at an advanced stage of FTA negotiations, this is a positive demonstration to facilitate trade ties on ground. The program will help lower initial setting up cost for smaller tech companies and enhance their credibility in the UK market.”

said Shivendra Singh, Vice President & Head – Global Trade Development, nasscom.

The MoU is an outcome of nasscom’s visit to UK in September 2022, supported by the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, when several companies showed interest in setting up their businesses in Manchester.  Seven Indian companies have set up their operations in the 1^st phase of this pilot project.

Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and GMCA portfolio lead for Economy and Business, said:

"The choice of Manchester Airport as the location for nasscom's first launchpad in the UK reflects both the strength of the tech sector here and the value of the airport as our international gateway. 

"By supporting Indian tech companies which want to expand in Greater Manchester this arrangement has the potential to create jobs and other opportunities for our residents and strengthen trade ties between the UK and India." 

Joe Manning, Managing Director at MIDAS, Greater Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency added

“It’s brilliant to welcome nasscom’s first UK launchpad to Greater Manchester. India’s ambitions for its tech ecosystem perfectly align with Greater Manchester’s long-term International Strategy and this new agreement has the potential to unlock significant opportunities for collaboration across trade and investment.”

MAG is the UK’s largest group of airports, operating Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airport. It also has a digital travel services business, called CAVU.

The companies participating in the nasscom launchpad will be housed within 4M, an office suite at Manchester Airport, where CAVU is also based, along with a number of other businesses.

Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport Managing Director, said:

“We know that our airports are key enablers of trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange, through the connectivity they provide. There are already more than 360,000 people a year to travel from our catchment area to India and, as we progress towards re-establishing a direct air route, partnerships like this in key growth sectors will make an important contribution to strengthening our ties with what is a priority market.

Ends

For further enquiries please contact 

Maya Powell, Communications Manager Maya.powell@marketingmanchester.com  

About nasscom

nasscom is the premier trade body and chamber of commerce of the Tech industry in India and comprises over 3000-member companies. Our membership spans across the entire spectrum of the industry from startups to multinationals and from products to services, Global Capability Centers to Engineering firms. Guided by India's vision to become a leading digital economy globally, nasscom focuses on accelerating the pace of transformation of the industry to emerge as the preferred enabler for global digital transformation. Our strategic imperatives are to reskill and upskill India's IT workforce to ensure that talent is future-ready in terms of new-age skills, strengthen the innovation quotient across industry verticals, create new market opportunities - both international and domestic, drive policy advocacy to advance innovation and ease of doing business, and build the industry narrative with focus on Talent, Trust, and Innovation. And, in everything we do, we will continue to champion the need for diversity and equal opportunity.

About MIDAS 

MIDAS is Greater Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency, with a strategic aim to secure significant levels of new investment for the city region to create and safeguard jobs. MIDAS forms part of The Growth Company, which supports the growth and prosperity of Greater Manchester through the provision of services that will raise Greater Manchester’s profile, attract investment, help generate new business, support existing businesses to grow, and provide individuals with new skills and employment opportunities. 

About Manchester Airport 

Manchester Airport is the UK’s Global Gateway in the North. It’s the UK’s biggest airport outside London and connects more than 2million passengers every month to an unrivalled range of destinations. Now celebrating it’s 85^th birthday, the airport is currently undergoing a £1.3bn Transformation Programme. The first phase of the programme completed in 2021 and saw Terminal 2 more than double in size, with the new facility having received positive feedback from passengers and airlines since opening. The second phase began in June and will see the original building upgraded with a second security hall and a new-look, extended departure lounge, along with reconfigurations of the airfield to make operations more efficient. More than 500 jobs are being created during the construction phase of the project – which is forecasted to generate up to 16,400 jobs by 2040, according to independent analysis. Manchester Airport is run by Manchester Airport Group (MAG) which also owns London Stansted and East Midlands airports.