In a significant stride toward cross-border economic integration, the Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai welcomed Mr. Sundararaman Ramamurthy, Managing Director and CEO of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), for the inaugural edition of the UAE-India Capital Connect Series. This event marked the beginning of a fresh phase in financial cooperation between India and the UAE.
Gathering of Key Stakeholders to Foster Market Synergy
The event brought together a diverse audience—prominent investors, institutional decision-makers, professionals, and students. These participants engaged in strategic discussions focused on deepening capital market ties and identifying collaborative avenues for sustainable economic growth between the two nations.
“This was a monumental day of achievement for IBPC Dubai,” stated Mr. Siddharth Balachandran, Chairman, IBPC Dubai. “With active participation from over 10 community associations, we saw unity in diversity at its finest. As India charts its path toward becoming a USD 30 trillion economy by 2045, forums like these become critical enablers for collaborative progress.”
Mr. Ramamurthy’s keynote address served as both a retrospective and a forward-looking blueprint for India’s capital market evolution from the formation of BSE in 1875 to its transformation into a cutting-edge digital marketplace.
“The paradigm has shifted,” said Mr. Ramamurthy. “Post-1992 reforms, Indian markets moved from merely facilitating trades to catalysing capital formation, job creation, and trust-building. Today, with over 200 million mutual fund investors and 11,000 foreign portfolio investors, India has become a consumption-driven, resilient economy, poised for global leadership.”
He emphasized the robustness of India’s financial infrastructure, noting BSE’s capacity to handle 1.4 million order messages per second, soon expanding to 2 million, and the platform’s technological edge in latency-free trading and high-frequency environments.
“The Indian economy is like a ship capable of navigating turbulent geopolitical waters. Our market diversity and depth offer strong ballast. This is the time for Indian expatriates to not just remit but reinvest back in India through structured channels like the BSE.”
Diplomatic Endorsement Reinforces Bilateral Vision
His Excellency Satish Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai, praised the initiative, describing it as a pivotal move in enhancing India-UAE economic relations. He emphasized the event's role in reinforcing the enduring and trusted partnership shared by the two countries.
Sessions Promote Financial Inclusion and Market Accessibility
Throughout the day, multiple sessions catered to different audience segments—from institutional investors to retail participants and students. Each discussion emphasized the critical importance of financial education, inclusive market access, and a joint commitment to economic advancement.
“Events like these reflect the timeliness and seriousness with which we approach our dual mandate,” added Mr. Balachandran. “We must support India-UAE trade ambitions while staying deeply rooted to our homeland’s growth story.”
Bridging Markets as India and UAE Expand Global Influence
With India recently rising to the rank of the world’s fifth-largest economy and the UAE positioning itself as a strategic financial hub, the UAE-India Capital Connect Series reflects IBPC Dubai’s dedication to building dynamic, people-centric market linkages that generate tangible economic outcomes.
Unlocking Potential in India's Vast SME Landscape
Mr. Ramamurthy spotlighted the vast untapped potential in India’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, noting that only around 1,000 of the country's 60 million SMEs are publicly listed. He urged UAE-based investors to explore new investment avenues, including innovative indices developed specifically for mutual funds and insurance portfolios.
Opening and Closing with Thought Leadership
The event opened with remarks from Dr. Sahitya Chaturvedi, Secretary General of IBPC, and Mr. Skandan Mahalingam, Governor of IBPC Dubai. The evening concluded with an interactive Q&A session and a formal vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Sunil Sinha, Vice Chairman of IBPC Dubai, marking a fitting end to a day dedicated to fostering international financial collaboration.
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