Dubai, UAE — April 2026 — The Indian Business and Professional Council convened its Annual General Meeting, underscoring its role as a catalyst for Indo-UAE collaboration.
According to the Emirates News Agency, Chairman Siddharth Balachandran described the bond between the UAE and India as foundational to the Council’s purpose.
He reminded those assembled that IBPC Dubai’s relevance has never been more central to advancing shared prosperity, pointing to the organisation’s transformation journey over recent years.
What has emerged, he said, is a unifying institutional platform—one that continues to empower the Indian business community in the UAE through collaboration, resilience, and a shared forward-looking vision.
IBPC Dubai reported a year of exceptional growth and engagement, marked by a significant expansion in its membership base and a deliberate, strong shift toward inclusivity, with female participation rising notably across the organisation.
In a move signaling continuity and strategic stability, Sahitya Chaturvedi was confirmed for a second tenure as Secretary General, ensuring that the Council’s strategic execution remains steady as it scales new ambitions.
Adding fresh firepower to the Council’s sectoral focus, members elected Focus Group Convenors to lead key industries critical to Indo-UAE collaboration.
Sreekumar Brahmanandan of Dubai Investment Industries will helm the Health, Education, Wellness and Pharma group; Sunny Narang of HSBC takes the lead on Financial Services and Capital Markets; Karthik Raman of RevDau will guide Tech, Digital and Innovation; James Mathew of UHY James steps in for Professional and Business Services; Rajiv Neelivethil of ESPA heads Real Estate and Built Environment; Advait Thakur leads Energy and Climate; and Amit Vardhan of Prism Advertising will steer Hospitality and Tourism. Together, they bring deep, cross-cutting industry expertise to priority domains that will shape the future of bilateral engagement.
Looking ahead, IBPC Dubai is already gearing up to host two flagship platforms that promise to set the tone for regional dialogue. The West Asia Business Conclave is scheduled for April 2026, followed by the Family Business Conference in May 2026.
Both initiatives are expected to further strengthen cross-border partnerships, elevate thought leadership, and deepen institutional engagement across the region—cementing IBPC Dubai’s role not merely as a convenor, but as a builder of bridges that last.
