Chairperson

Sujit S Nair has played a significant role in fostering business ties between India and the European Union/UK over recent years. Since 2011, he has orchestrated numerous sessions at esteemed venues such as the British Parliament in London and the European Parliament in Brussels, alongside multiple campaigns and virtual discussions. Notably, he was invited by the US Department of State to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2015, hosted at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, co-hosted by US President Barack Obama and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyahatta. His efforts have earned him recognition as one of the Top 99 most influential foreign policy leaders under 33 for 2013 by the Washington DC-based Young Professionals in Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Courier, a Global Affairs Magazine.
 

The genesis of the Europe India Centre for Business and Industry stemmed from Sujit's encounter with the meticulous statistical research of Cambridge historian Angus Maddison. Maddison's work revealed that India's share of global income in the 1700s, at approximately 22.6%, was nearly on par with Europe's share of 23.3% during that era. Today, while India's share of global GDP stands at around 3%, Europe commands roughly 30%. This stark contrast led Sujit to recognize the immense untapped potential for collaboration between the two regions, given Europe's population of 750 million and India's 1.2 billion. 

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Sujit believes there is a clear contrast in the way Europeans perceive India and how Indians view Europe. Why this stark difference? The answer lies in perception—a perception shaped by how media and communication channels choose to portray a region. Every part of the world faces its own set of social and economic challenges. India is no exception, nor is Europe. However, while European media often highlights India’s shortcomings, Indian communication channels tend to celebrate Europe’s strengths. Even when the narrative shifts to India’s positives, the focus in Europe is often limited to Bollywood, yoga, and butter chicken. While these are certainly iconic aspects of India, they only skim the surface of what modern India represents. Today’s India is a hub of innovation, a leader in technology, and a thriving economy brimming with opportunities for global collaboration. These stories deserve to be shared—not just for India’s sake, but to foster genuine, mutually beneficial partnerships. Encouraging Europe to look beyond India’s perceived shortcomings requires more than just a change in messaging. It calls for a deliberate effort to amplify stories that inspire, stories that highlight the transformative potential of collaboration between these two regions. Similarly, young Indians need to be introduced to a more nuanced understanding of Europe—one that transcends its postcard-perfect imagery—so they can engage with it in a more meaningful way. Both India and Europe are incredibly diverse and poised to remain global leaders in the coming years. With the opportunities presented through the Europe India Centre for Business and Industry, Sujit is privileged to serve as a bridge-builder, fostering cooperation and understanding between these two dynamic regions.

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The Europe India Centre for Business and Industry (EICBI) is dedicated to harnessing the collective potential of these 2 billion people. Through EICBI, Sujit fervently endeavours to bolster economic ties between the European Union/UK and India. His approach includes organizing delegation visits, hosting conferences and seminars to engage businessmen from both regions, facilitating introductions and presentations for companies, aiding in establishing international partnerships, providing practical assistance for participation in entrepreneurship programs, and organizing exhibitions and roadshows to promote businesses.

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Sujit approaches the future with optimism, eagerly anticipating close collaboration with businesses and industries to unlock vast opportunities in the UK India and EU India corridor.