H.E. Shri Kumaran Periasamy, High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom, began his maiden visit to Birmingham with an interaction with prominent leaders from the Midlands representing business, industry, academia, technology, trade and the wider community.

The interaction brought together R. M. Chokkalingam, Chief Operating Officer, Norton Motorcycles / TVS Motor Company; Dr Jason Wouhra, Chairman, Lioncroft Wholesale and Chancellor, Aston University; Mr Sudeep Mazumder, Vice President & Business Unit Head – Manufacturing, UK & Ireland, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS); Mr Murray Paul, Director for External Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover; Professor Mark Lee, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (India), University of Birmingham; Mr Richard Billingham, Chief Operating Officer, Aston University; Professor Hanifa Shah OBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor – Research, Enterprise, Engagement & STEAM, Birmingham City University; representatives of the West Midlands Growth Company and Tata Technologies; and Bhai Saheb Professor Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ).

The engaging exchange provided a platform for leaders from academia, business and industry to share perspectives with the High Commissioner and discuss opportunities to further strengthen India–UK collaboration across trade and investment, advanced manufacturing, automotive and mobility, technology and AI, education, research, innovation and skills development.

Discussions also highlighted the strong complementarities between India and the Midlands, including the region’s industrial base, entrepreneurial ecosystem, world-class universities, technology capabilities and growing innovation landscape.

The interaction underscored the important role of the Midlands in advancing the India–UK partnership, particularly in areas where business, academia and industry can work together to develop new opportunities for trade, investment, research, innovation and skills.

The High Commissioner’s engagement with leading stakeholders marked the beginning of his Birmingham visit and provided an opportunity to deepen connections with the region’s business, academic, industrial and community leadership.