In an exciting move, Southampton 2025 Trust can proudly announce a new partnership with locally based global consultants India Business Group (IBG).  The partnership will strengthen Southampton’s position as a global trading destination and in turn the city’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025. Southampton has a strong India diaspora who are central to the development of the bid, its themes, the associated programme and its legacy.

Claire Whitaker OBE, Southampton 2025 UK City of Culture Bid Director said, “Bidding to be UK City of Culture provides an opportunity to showcase Southampton’s diverse communities. 

“Since early November, we’ve been holding city-wide virtual meetings to gather exciting ideas for the bid.  Listening to the local communities is at the heart of the bid and people of every age, faith, ability, race and sexual orientation from across Southampton will continue to have a say in shaping the future of our city.”

As part of the partnership, IBG will help promote the positive impact that winning the bid will have upon Southampton. This includes the overall economic benefits, inward investment opportunities, the creation of new jobs and showcasing Southampton’s rich diverse and cultural heritage.

IBG will also play an important role in developing new local, national and international business opportunities, aligned to Southampton 2025’s vision.

Its founder and CEO, Amarjit Singh said, “Being a native son of Southampton, I am so proud, humbled and honoured that India Business Group (IBG) is able to help Southampton to become UK City of Culture.

“It is such a diverse, multicultural, multi-faith city with world-class industries, globally recognised institutions and cutting-edge research facilities, such as we have at the University of Southampton.

“We innovate, we inspire, and we open our doors to more than business. We seek, discover and cherish our friends across the globe for meaningful and long-lasting relationships.

“In my role as CEO of IBG I often tell people how lucky we are to be that living bridge between the UK and India, the world’s fifth largest economy.

“More than that, think about the south Asian diaspora and how my city, my home, my Southampton is at the heart of that special relationship, celebrating cultures which have added to the richness of this wonderful country.

“This bid is our golden opportunity to forge even closer links as we show off what this tremendous city has to offer the world.”