techUK & NASSCOM joint statement following Tech Alliance meeting

17 Aug 2020 02:06 PM

This joint statement is released by techUK and NASSCOM upon the completion of the latest annual “Tech Alliance” meeting, which took place in July 2020. The “Tech Alliance” was formed in April 2018, as part of the joint statement by the Prime Ministers of both nations. It aims to strengthen the technology partnership between the two countries and promote collaboration with a view to growing digital capabilities and skills, as well as provide a platform for knowledge sharing and innovation. The alliance is represented by NASSCOM on the Indian side and techUK on the UK side, alongside their respective members. It enjoys the strong and sustained support of both governments.

The latest Tech Alliance meeting was held virtually on 31 July at a critical time, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, when technology businesses have stepped up to support governmental efforts to protect their citizens from the spread of the disease and provide essential services for people to be able to work remotely. International cooperation has become crucial for defeating this virus and providing a sustainable recovery for our economies.

The forum focused on a variety of key issues and shared challenges ranging from the role of technology in the COVID-19 recovery plans, to the trading relationship, mobility and data flows.

The annual meeting had high level participation from both industry and the two governments, including the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, H.E. Ms Gaitri Issar Kumar, the UK’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia, Alan Gemmell OBE, and the UK's Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia, Rhiannon Harries, among others.

A few areas for joint action and cooperation have been identified, including data flows, talent mobility, standards and emerging technology cooperation. These will enhance our cooperation and lead to increase bilateral trade, as well as provide ease of doing business.

Referring to the Tech Alliance meeting, Julian David, CEO, techUK, noted:

“The UK is the second fastest growing G20 investor in India while India is the second largest investor in the UK. As we reflect on the recent global developments and what comes next, technology sector will be at the heart of the future collaboration between the two nations. To capitalise on emerging opportunities and address existing challenges, we must work together to ensure that businesses are able to seamlessly collaborate and innovate across borders. It means ensuring that bilateral relationship encourages movement of data, talent and innovation while also reducing barriers for business growth. The UK-India Tech Alliance is an important forum that brings senior business and government stakeholders to address policy bottlenecks and collaboration on emerging solutions.”

You can find the full statement below.

FINAL-JOINT STATEMENT TECHUK_NASSCOM (PDF)