The Economic Times

The conversations that matter happen with the right people in the room. As Indian businesses look outward, the questions get more specific: how to structure a UAE entity, what market access really involves, how warehousing and re-export models work in practice, and what cross-border tax, banking and compliance demand once operations span two jurisdictions. The India–UAE Business Expansion Forum brings together leaders from trade bodies, industry councils, advisory firms and the Free Zones Authority of Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) to address those questions directly - in one focused morning. The programme will feature: • A keynote address by senior leadership from the Free Zones Authority of Ajman on the UAE's evolving business landscape and what it opens up for Indian enterprises. • An Ajman Free Zone Overview and Q&A led by Zubair Ul Islam, Director of Sales, Free Zones Authority of Ajman — covering business setup, warehousing, investor support services and pathways to establishing a UAE presence. • A session on India–UAE Business Opportunities, featuring: > Dr.Sridevi Arunachalam, Founder, Indo-UAE Economic Chamber of Commerce > Zubair Ul Islam, Director of Sales, Free Zones Authority of Ajman > Divya Abhishek Abhishek, Secretary, Southern India Regional Council of ICMAI > Bhupesh Nagarajan Nagarajan, Co-Chair, FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council •A session on Tax Advisory, Banking & Cross-Border Business, featuring: >Mukesh Kumar M Kumar, Co-founder, M2K Advisors >Palaniappan Alagappan, Partner, KPMG >Vandana Rangarajan, Senior Executive Director and Co-head, 360 ONE Wealth >Anshul Khemuka, Partner, Khaitan & Co • Followed by an open audience Q&A, closing remarks and networking over lunch — so you can take your own situation to the room rather than a general one. Whether you're evaluating a UAE entity, a regional distribution hub, a re-export model or a new market-entry strategy, this is an opportunity to learn directly from the people helping businesses navigate these decisions every day | Brand post. 📍 Chennai | 24 August 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM Presented by Ajman Free Zone (AFZ) in association with The Economic Times. Participation is by invitation and confirmation. | Brand Post https://lnkd.in/gEyWQA5P #IndiaUAEBusinessExpansionForum #AjmanFreeZone #IndiaUAE #GlobalGrowth #BusinessExpansion #ExportGrowth #InternationalTrade #IndianSMEs #Manufacturing #EconomicTimes

They have represented India at the highest level and redefined what sporting excellence can look like for generations of women. Saina Nehwal, Olympic Medalist & Former World No. 1 Badminton Player; Rani Rampal, Former Indian Hockey Captain & Olympian; and Asmita Dey, India's first-ever Commonwealth Games Judo Gold Medalist, came together to reflect on ambition, resilience and the journey beyond achievement in the session “Champions Beyond Boundaries: Women Who Make India ProRani Rampal 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK

AI is opening up faster ways to turn concepts into working products and experiences. These tools are changing how people experiment and build across formats. Harshit Yadav, Founder & CEO, Zingroll; Deedy Das, Partner, Menlo Ventures and Tanay Kothari, Co-founder & CEO, Wispr, discussed what this could mean for the future of creative work in the session “Vibe Coding, Vibe Filmmaking, Vibe Building: The Future of Creativity” at #ETWLF. 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK Harshit Yadav Zingroll Deedy Das Menlo Ventures Tanay Kothari

India’s defence sector is entering a new phase, with private companies taking on a larger role in building capability at home and supporting long-term strategic independence. Puneet Kaura, MD & CEO, Samtel Avionics; Sameer Joshi, CEO & Director, NewSpace Research & Technologies; Satyanarayan Nandlal Nuwal, Founder & Chairman, Solar Group; and Rajendra Chodankar, Founder & Chairman, RRP Defense, examined how private industry can strengthen India’s defence manufacturing base in the session “From an Importer to a Defence Power: Can Private Industry Deliver?” at #ETWLF. 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK Puneet Kaura Samtel Avionics Sameer Joshi NewSpace Research and Technologies Solar Group Rajendra Chodankar

India and the UAE are building a deeper economic relationship, with investment flows opening new opportunities across both markets. The next decade will be defined by how effectively businesses and investors turn this momentum into long-term growth. Abdulla Ziad Galadari, Senior Partner, Galadari Advocates; Nandi Vardhan Mehta, CFO, KAAF Investments; Nader Albastaki, MD, Dubai Future District Fund; Youssef Salem, CFO, ADNOC Drilling; and Ekta Tolani, Chief Investment Officer, KBW Ventures, examined the investment outlook for the next decade in the panel “The India-UAE Growth Corridor: Investing in the Next Decade” at #ETWLF. 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK Abdulla Ziad Galadari Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants Nandi Vardhan Mehta KAAF Investments Nader Albastaki Dubai Future District Fund ADNOC Drilling Ekta Tolani KBW Ventures

Saurabh Sharma, Chief Legal Officer, SPEC Finance, shared his perspective on the role of International Financial Services Centres in supporting India’s long-term financial ambitions during the session “Emergence of International Financial Services Centres and Their Role in the Viksit Bharat 2047 Goal” at #ETWLF. 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK Saurabh Sharma SPEC Finance

International Financial Services Centres are becoming an important part of India’s ambition to deepen global financial integration. Their role in attracting capital and strengthening India’s position as a financial hub will be central to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Dr. Dipesh Shah, Executive Director, IFSCA; Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund; Pradip Sonawane, MD & CEO, Emirates International Insurance Brokers LLC.; and Saurabh Sharma, Chief Legal Officer, SPEC Finance, discussed how these centres can contribute to India’s long-term ambitions in the session “Emergence of International Financial Services Centres and Their Role in the Viksit Bharat 2047 Goal” at #ETWLF. 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK Radhika Gupta Dr. Dipesh Shah Emirates International Insurance Brokers LLC. Saurabh Sharma SPEC Finance

Panelists share their views on 'From an Importer to a Defence Power: Can Private Industry Deliver?' at #ETWLF 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK

Panelists share their thoughts on 'The India-UAE Growth Corridor: Investing in the Next Decade' at #ETWLF 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK

Ambition has set the direction; the focus now is on scaling solutions and accelerating implementation across India’s energy landscape. At #ETWLF, Ajay Kapur, Group CEO, Suzlon, shared his perspective during the session “India’s Energy Transition: From Ambition to Action”, talking about the priorities that will shape the country’s next phase of energy growth. 📺 Watch the #ETWorldLeadersForum Day-2 sessions on our YouTube channel ➠ https://lnkd.in/g9DUATXK Suzlon Group