The historic House of Lords witnessed a landmark evening as the Indo-European Business Forum (IEBF) hosted the Viksit Bharat Investment Summit 2025, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to celebrate partnerships and strengthen economic ties between India, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the wider world.

The summit was graced by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who was honoured with the Leadership and Governance Award for his visionary policies and transformative governance in Himachal Pradesh. 

In his keynote address, the Chief Minister invited global investors to explore opportunities in clean energy, responsible tourism, horticulture, IT, and wellness industries in Himachal Pradesh, emphasizing the state’s 100% literacy rate and its strong foundation of trust and resilience.

IEBF Founder Mr. Vijay Goel welcomed dignitaries and emphasized the significance of the moment, with India-UK and India-EU Free Trade Agreements poised to unlock business worth over £40 billion and €200 billion respectively. 

Mr Goel said: “This is not just about reducing tariffs. It is about unlocking opportunities across textiles, renewable energy, defence, education, IT, and retail. Together, we can redefine economic partnerships for the 21st century.” 

The summit saw participation from an illustrious gathering, including Lord David Evans, Minister Kanishka Narayan, Minister Seema Malhotra, Virender Sharma ji, His Excellency Samuel Mahama from Ghana, Dr Rohitga Sri Lanka’s former Foreign Minister and High Commissioner, Dr. Neerja Birla, Niharika Handa ji, Tejesh Kumar Kodali, Subodh Kumar Gupta, Sandip Sali ji, and distinguished guests from the USA, Dubai, Hong Kong, Africa, and Europe.

The evening also celebrated excellence across diverse fields:

• Leadership and Governance Award – Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
• Innovation in Diagnostic Devices – Mr. Subodh Kumar Gupta
• Businesswoman of the Year – Ms. Niharika Handa
• Global Changemaker Award for Social Impact – Dr. Neerja Birla
• Global AI Excellence Award – Mr. Tejesh Kumar Kodali & Ms. Janaki Yarlagadda
• Green Entrepreneur of the Year (UK) – Mr. Sandip Sali

Media partner was Here & Now 365, whose Founder Manish Tiwari last year won the British Indian of the Year award.

The summit concluded with a collective commitment towards building stronger economic bridges between nations. “We are not just speaking of business,” said Mr. Goel, “we are speaking of building a brighter, stronger, and more sustainable future. Together, let us make Bharat truly Viksit—developed, prosperous, and globally respected.”