UK–India Summit 2025 at ISS Airview: Shaping a New Era of Trade and Inclusive Growth

At ISS Airview, we were proud to host the UK–India Summit 2025, a landmark two-day event bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and trade experts to explore how the India–UK partnership can unlock opportunities for inclusive growth, innovation, and global collaboration.

Day 1: India–UK FTA Roundtable with Mayor Kim McGuinness

Day 1 opened with history in the making at the UK’s first purpose-built International Trade Centre. The day began with a moving blessing ceremony led by Pandit Ji Gautam Balkrishna, joined by Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East Combined Authority, who formally blessed the building. This was far more than symbolism: it marked the North East’s intent to position itself as a launchpad for global trade.

Mayor McGuinness went on to set out a bold vision for inclusive growth, demonstrating how climate action, international trade, and community prosperity can work hand in hand. Her leadership underscored the importance of ensuring that opportunity and investment reach every part of the region.

Following the opening, the India–UK Free Trade Agreement Roundtable set the tone for the summit with a dynamic, forward-looking debate. The discussion focused on four key questions:

1. How can the India–UK Free Trade Agreement drive SME-led exports, innovation, and growth?

2. What role can Freeports and Investment Zones play in accelerating inward investment and clean growth?

3. How do we deliver inclusive growth across industries such as green tech and the creative sector, ensuring no community is left behind?

4. How can government, academia, and business collaborate to build the skills, compliance, and global readiness SMEs need?

   
   

Speakers including Vishakha Yaduvanshi (Consul General of India), ‘JM’ Meenu Malhotra DL (HCGI), Ammar Mirza CBE, and Sharon Kaur Jandu OBE joined regional and national leaders in exploring these themes. The conversation reinforced the strength of the India–UK trade corridor, highlighting the opportunities to encourage, enable, and empower SMEs to trade globally.

For ISS Airview and ISS Freeports, this roundtable represented the culmination of 20+ years of building global relationships — now realised in a practical platform to deliver Foreign Trade Agreements, support UK businesses scaling overseas, and provide inward investors with a soft landing into the UK.

Day 1 was more than discussion; it was about inclusive innovation, collaboration, and shaping the North East as a true gateway to the world.

Day 2: Dialogue, Diplomacy, and Collaboration

Day 2 built on the momentum with a packed agenda facilitated by Sharon Kaur Jandu OBE, ISS Director of Strategic Partnerships & External Engagements for India.

The day opened with a traditional welcome by Nayan Vyas and an introduction by Ammar Mirza CBE, before moving into a VIP Panel and Fireside Chat. Speakers explored the evolving UK–India relationship through the lenses of diplomacy, enterprise, and cultural capital, under themes such as Bridging Nations, Diplomacy Meets Enterprise, and Global Voices, Local Impact.

Highlights included:

• ‘JM’ Meenu Malhotra DL (HCGI), Honorary Consul General, on diaspora engagement and diplomacy.

• Shehla Hasan (CII UK) on enterprise-led collaboration and cultural connectivity.

• Simon Crosby (Department for Business and Trade) with practical insights for SMEs navigating global markets.

• Sam Gardner (University of York) on academic–enterprise partnerships driving innovation.

• Dr Jatinder Singh (PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry) with an invitation to the forthcoming MSMEs conference in Delhi.

  
  

The day concluded with a networking lunch, giving delegates the chance to forge meaningful connections and explore collaboration opportunities.

The North East on the Global Stage

The UK–India Summit at ISS Airview demonstrated that the North East is no longer just watching the global stage – we are shaping it. From the roundtable with Mayor Kim McGuinness to in-depth panels and global perspectives, the summit showcased how inclusive growth, innovation, and trade can go hand in hand.

ISS Airview remains committed to its role as the UK’s first dedicated International Trade Centre, a bridge between the UK and the world’s fastest-growing economies. Through upcoming Trade Missions and international partnerships, we will continue to connect ambition with opportunity and deliver on the promise of the India–UK FTA and beyond.