India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman kicks off India Global Forum's (IGF) annual flagship event in Dubai this week with the theme of ‘Unleashing Ambitions’ for the country’s wide-ranging partnership initiatives with the Middle East and Africa.
The third edition of the event has expanded its purview beyond the India-UAE corridor to encompass a broader geographical perspective with the IGF Middle East and Africa 2023 (IGF ME&A) Programme. IGF ME&A convenes business leaders, policymakers, and thought leaders from India, UAE and Africa to discuss opportunities for further collaboration and growth between these regions through a series of exclusive networking opportunities, panel discussions, and keynote speeches, covering a range of topics including trade, investment, innovation, technology, climate change and sustainability.
Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman, IGF, said: “This year's theme – ‘Unleashing Ambitions’ – sets the tone for discussions that transcend geographical boundaries and fosters an environment where India, Middle East and Africa can converge their strengths and leverage each other's expertise and resources to pioneer a new era of collaboration.
“IGF ME&A will be the catalyst for this collaboration, and showcase the limitless opportunities presented by the Global South.”
The event comes against the backdrop of the UAE-India partnership scaling newer heights, with bilateral trade between registering a year-on-year increase of 16 per cent to hit $85 billion in the April 2022-March 2023 period – fasting moving towards a target of achieving $100 billion non-oil trade by 2030. The partnership is also acquiring newer dimensions with the two countries collaborating to support investments and development projects in Africa.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir noted: “In today’s world, the India-UAE strategic partnership stands tall. The centuries old trade relationship has taken flight and diversified into an unbelievable expanse of opportunities.
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“It is based on the principle of mutual growth and development, taking pride in each other’s successes, and creating solutions that are inclusive and have the global good in mind.”
With over 150 speakers and 1,000+ participants, IGF ME&A will feature:
IGF Dialogues: Exclusive gathering of industry leaders and policymakers engaging in peer-to-peer roundtable dialogues spanning trade, fintech, food security, climate change etc
IGF Forum: Exploring the untapped potential, and newer avenues for collaboration between governments and businesses in India, Middle East, and Africa
IGF Studio: Spotlighting topics in tech, media, leadership, and geopolitics in a broadcast studio format hosted by top news anchors with thought leaders, celebrities, CEOs and Founders
Founders and Funders Forum: Examining how emerging markets are driving innovation and using leapfrog technology to reshape their future with leading founders, funders and entrepreneurs from India, UAE and Africa
WomenIN Forum: Deep dive into how women can claim their rightful place at the forefront of innovation and leadership with some of the most successful achievers of our times
Climate and Business Forum (ClimB): Ahead of COP28, explore climate leadership, green financing and innovative policies for sustainable growth
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*Info: India Global Forum
