Baroness Usha Prashar appointed as the Chair of FICCI UK Council

London: The Rt Hon The Baroness Usha Prashar of Runnymede CBE is appointed as the inaugural Chairperson of the FICCI UK Council for a period of two years.

Baroness Prashar is a crossbench member of the House of Lords and served on the European Union Select Committee and chaired its Sub-Committee on Home Affairs. She was also a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and Select Committee on Economic Regulation.

Mr Sandip Somany, President, FICCI said, “We are honoured and privileged that Baroness Prashar has accepted our invitation to become its inaugural Chairperson. I am sure under her leadership FICCI UK will play a vital role in the India-UK trade and investment initiatives.”

Baroness Prashar said, “I am honoured to be the inaugural Chairperson of FICCI?s UK Council. I look forward to helping to increase FICCI?s influence and impact throughout the UK. As a strong membership organisation with regional presence and prominent visibility, FICCI is in a very strong position to support businesses, represent their interests and make a real contribution to India-UK trade and commerce relations.”

Baroness Prashar made the announcement for forming Sectoral Committees for sectors like Financial Services, Startups & Innovation, Education, Healthcare amongst others.

Mr Lok Nath Mishra, MD & CEO, ICICI Bank UK Plc has consented to be the Chair for the Sectoral Committee on Financial Services and Mr Alpesh Patel, Managing Director, Praefinium Group has agreed to Chair the Startup & Innovation Sector committee.

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India. A non-government, not-for-profit organisation, FICCI is the voice of India’s business and industry.

Established in 2005, FICCI’s United Kingdom office is working towards optimally utilizing the emerging economic paradigms in UK to enhance the chamber’s reach and depth and to seek opportunities for the Indian industry. FICCI UK has a solid institutional framework backing it.

The appointment of the Chairperson and extension of the Council also reinstates FICCI’s commitment to the India-UK economic engagement, in any Brexit scenario, as it will unlock huge bilateral opportunities.