Dear Member Thanks for making 2016 such a success for YABA, our highlights included YABA celebrating, Vaisakhi, Eid and Diwali and not to forget the Annual Awards dinner to remind you here are some of the media highlights:

Yorkshire Living – December Edition
Hundreds attend YABA Awards to celebrate community achievements – Business Desk
YABA winners announced – BQ
YABA Awards 2016 – Plus News
Finalists announced for YABA Awards – BQ
Yorkshire businesses recognised in YABA Awards – BQ
Third time’s the charm for YABA Awards – Business Desk
Awards night shortlists best of Asian business – Yorkshire Post

We are building relationships with India – a top priority for Prime Minister Teresa May, who recently led a trade mission to India to reboot the UK’s relationship with the country and forge a stronger strategic partnership between the UK and India. On 5th January 2017, we are taking a delegation of Yorkshire businesses to Bangalore in the state of Karnataka to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference and then on to Pravasi Haryana Divas and Vibrant Gujarat. This trade mission signals the beginning of an important opportunity to create links between India and the UK. We are particularly focused on the trade that can be done during the visit and working to secure business by ensuring that the necessary connections are made. This is an opportunity to explore business opportunities available in the three regions and will create important connections and trade links for the future, this is the first of many trade missions.

Why India? India is now the fourth largest economy in the world and the UK’s second largest export market in the developing world after China. There are many benefits of working in India and in collaboration with YABA we can set up:

* Networking opportunities and client entertainment
* Prearranged B2B meetings
* Pre-visit and in country briefings providing market information and advice on how to do business in India
* Shared intelligence through group visit
* Competitive costs through group travel
* Local press coverage for appropriate companies
* Services of an experienced mission manager before and during the visit

UK Northern Powerhouse Conference:

I am pleased to say that YABA will be teaming up with the North West Asian Business Association and AB Connexions as partners in the UK Northern Powerhouse Conference taking place on 21st and 22nd February 2017 at Manchester Central. Martin Venning Northern Powerhouse Conference Director has offered a 25% discount to YABA members, further details are on the YABA web site. This conference is the pre-eminent high level event for the Northern Powerhouse concept, with the objective of bringing together key partners in the public and private sectors to consider how to grow the economy of the North of England, with an expected over 3000 delegates due to attend, Martin has planned a “Trade with India” stand in the Commercial Exhibition and the conference will feature several top level speakers from India, working in partnership the plan is to demonstrate the potential to boost trade in key market sectors and to capitalise on the long standing (and under- utilised) relationships with India.

For any observations, comments or further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards, Amarjit SIngh Chairman, Yorkshire Asian Business Association
@yabaonline