UK’s Minister of State, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, embarks on a three-day visit to India, covering Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Ahmedabad in Gujarat. During this visit, he will unveil two new sustainability projects funded by the UK, emphasizing the collaboration between the UK and India.

Scheduled to participate in the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (TNGIM), Lord Ahmad will introduce these projects, emphasizing the collaboration between the UK and India. His agenda also includes engagement at Vibrant Gujarat, a summit centered on innovation.

In Chennai, Lord Ahmad will inaugurate a Heat Mitigation project in partnership with Tamil Nadu’s State Planning Commission. This initiative aims to offer recommendations to address extreme heat-related deaths and the depletion of crucial ecosystems.

Additionally, a collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Department of Environment and Climate Change will see the launch of an Electronic and Battery Waste Management project. This project is designed to formulate a plan for reducing battery waste.

Given the economic significance of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, Lord Ahmad intends to underscore the robust trade partnership between the UK and India and explore avenues for collaboration, particularly in the realm of clean energy growth.

Before the visit, Lord Ahmad expressed his anticipation of witnessing British businesses contributing to innovation in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. He highlighted the potential for joint projects with dynamic Indian businesses, spanning renewable manufacturing to financial services, fostered by the close trade ties between the two nations.

Participating in the TNGIM in Chennai, Lord Ahmad will deliver a keynote speech on successful UK-India projects in climate and energy. He aims to showcase the sustainable achievements of British businesses overseas and observe firsthand how they support clean growth in India.

During the Biennial Investors’ Summit, Vibrant Gujarat, Lord Ahmad will celebrate the strong ties between the UK and India across business, culture, and people. Witnessing the signing of an MoU between the UK’s Abertay University and India’s École Intuit Lab, the Minister will promote the exchange of teaching, research, and innovation expertise between the two institutions.

The visit aligns with the UK’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with India, a key aspect of its long-term foreign policy outlined in the Integrated Review Refresh. The 2030 Roadmap for India-UK future relations, initiated in 2021, has seen significant progress in health collaboration, the transition to clean energy, cybersecurity cooperation, and the expansion of defence and security partnership.

As part of the ongoing climate and energy collaboration, two UK-funded projects will be launched in Tamil Nadu. The Heat Mitigation Strategy for Tamil Nadu Project aims to address extreme heat-related challenges and ecosystem loss, aligning with both India and the UK’s climate goals. The Electronic and Battery Waste Management Project focuses on developing a circular economy strategy to tackle the rising issue of e-waste, particularly batteries, in a leading industrial state.

This visit serves as a testament to the enduring partnership between the UK and India, emphasizing shared goals in addressing climate challenges and fostering sustainable development. Lord Ahmad’s engagement in key economic summits and project launches underscores the commitment to collaborative efforts that benefit both nations. The visit not only focuses on governmental ties but also highlights the vital role of businesses and academic institutions in building a resilient and mutually beneficial relationship between the UK and India.