Electronic Media Coverage

Livemint | Asian Business Leadership Forum to celebrate 12th anniversary on 6 Nov in Dubai

Nov 02,2019

Asian Business Leadership Forum (ABLF), Asia's most influential leadership series that brings the finest global leaders to the UAE, will be celebrating its 12th anniversary with a special edition of the ABLF Awards on 6 November, 2019, at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai.

Under the theme ‘Inclusive Leadership in an Interconnected World: Driving Progress and Sustainability through Tolerance’, the gala will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance, UAE, and in official association with the UAE Ministry of Economy.

For the first time in 12 years, the leadership platform will be hosting a guest nation— India.

“The fact that India is the Guest Nation at the ABLF this year, reflects well on our growing relationship with the UAE… it is important for all the people in the world to come together and I am glad that ABLF is contributing to that effort in the world," said S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India.

The ABLF will be receiving a high-profile delegation from Madhya Pradesh, India, led by the Chief Minister Kamal Nath. “The ABLF is Asia’s most prestigious annual business leadership event. It is well attended by global leaders who are invested in the future of the Asian countries," Nath said,

Among the Indian corporate leaders who will be attending this event, which highlights the strong bilateral relations between the UAE and India, are Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group; Gopichand P Hinduja, Co-Chairman, Hinduja Group of Companies; Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman and Managing Director, Serum Institute of India; Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director, HT Media; B.K. Goenka, Chairman, Welspun Group and President, ASSOCHAM; Jaidev Shroff, Global CEO, UPL Limited; Sajjan Jindal, Chairman, JSW Group; Dr Niranjan Hiranandani, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Hiranandani Group; Rajiv Luthra, Founder and Managing Partner, L&L Partners Law Offices; and Madhusudan Agrawal, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman, Ajanta Pharma Ltd.

“Delighted that India is being honoured as the Guest Nation at the 12th Edition of the ABLF in the UAE. The legendary India-UAE friendship is a fine example of the power of positive and future-focused collaborative spirit between two nations" said Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India.

“The ABLF celebrates regional and international dialogue and cooperation to promote growth and create a better future for the region. The platform embraces change, creativity and vitality and helps advance and strengthen the economic performance of Asian countries," said Sheikh Nahayan.

The ABLF will also be celebrating the teachings of the founding fathers of the UAE and India – Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Mahatma Gandhi.

"2019 has been a year of firsts as we continue to innovate and transform, aligning with the dynamic energy that permeates Asia’s economic, social, cultural and technological zeitgeist," said Malini Menon, co-founder of the ABLF.

250 guests comprising the finest leaders across Asia are expected to attend the upcoming awards night which will recognise 15 visionary leaders for their remarkable contributions to the progress and development of the region and facilitate bespoke networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities among world-renowned leaders.