UKABC August 2017 Update

UKABC’s August 2017 update brought together a broad programme of organisational announcements, partnerships, events and international opportunities. The edition reflected on India’s Independence Day and on the wider importance of institutions, economic development and independent platforms for business and public discussion.

UKABC announced plans to launch Asia and Africa Times in January 2018 as a platform connecting regions in which its partner businesses and organisations operated. A major programme announcement was AIRIM, an Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Immersive Media conference planned for 8–9 November 2017 in association with London South Bank University.

The programme was intended to bring industry leaders together to discuss innovation and future expectations in AI, robotics and immersive media, with a Rapid Investment Round for start-ups also planned. The update also announced three additions to the UKABC Board at the time: Dr Sarfraz Ashraf as Vice-President (Health), Dr Ashutosh Choubey as Director, Industry Outreach, and Junaid Siddiqui as Adviser (Bio-Tech).

These titles are recorded here as historical positions held in 2017 and should not be read as the current UKABC leadership structure. Several partnership announcements were included. UKABC described work with Paras Hospitals of India around medical tourism, Healthians India around preventive healthcare and at-home testing, and the National Apprenticeship Service around business engagement with apprenticeships.

The update also highlighted the Kawasaki Fund and its work to raise awareness of Kawasaki Disease. Other forthcoming programmes listed in the newsletter included film-related meet-and-greet events, the London Mela, the International Diversity Festival, a UKABC leadership and employment-law workshop, and the Asian Beauty Pageant International.

The newsletter also shared UKABC member opportunities, including workspace offers in Brentford and a range of international business and investment opportunities involving Ecuador, Germany, Iran, Iraq and India. The India section included property opportunities in Thane and Worli, Mumbai.

Taken together, the August 2017 update provides a useful historical snapshot of UKABC’s activity at that stage of its development: combining business opportunities, international partnerships, technology events, healthcare connections and public-facing programmes. Current leadership, partnerships and programmes should always be checked against the latest pages on the UKABC website.