Bath India Economic Forum 2007 The Internationalisation of Indian Business

Summary Of Panel Discussions

The Bath India Economic Forum 2007 builds on the agenda of last year’s forum, “Emerging India in a Global Economy” which focused on India’s tremendous economic growth and the relative risks and rewards of inward investment. This year’s focus is the “The Internationalisation of Indian Business”, exploring the role and impact of Indian companies around the world, and particularly in the United Kingdom.

Panel 1
Entrepreneurship - The Key to India's Future International Growth?

India’s growing middle class is expected to reach 445m people by 2008 and growing income per capita presents a huge opportunity for businesses. At the same time, India has a population of more than half a billion people under the age of twenty five and produces 2 million graduates each year. This panel will explore the role of young entrepreneurs in India today and the contribution they can make to India’s growth.  

Panel 2
What Makes The UK Such An Attractive Investment Destination?

In 2006 India was the second largest investor in the UK by employment, and the single largest in London. Last year alone the number of Indian outbound foreign direct investment projects increased by 26%. This panel seeks to explore the drivers of this trend, which is seen across the automotive, business services, chemicals, electronics, financial services, life science and IT sectors. We will examine the management practices of Indian firms in the UK, the sources of their competitive advantage and the potential for future international investments, as well as the challenges associated with them. With the number of Indian companies listed on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) expected to rise significantly over the next few years, this panel will also look at what makes the UK an attractive source of foreign investment.

Panel 3
Will India's Economic Growth Cost the Earth?

India has seen extensive industrialisation and unplanned urbanisation in recent years, leading to a loss of forests, poisoning of waters, loss of plant and animal species and the rendering of millions homeless. Three of India’s cities are amongst the 15 most-polluted cities in the world. At the same time, India faces growing demand for energy and resources. This panel explores the implications of economic growth on India’s culture and environment, and examines whether action is being taken to manage the global effects. We ask, does economic growth come at the expense of a social and environmental crisis?