CII CIES

International Delegation

Build. Support. Prosper

CII extends its engagement beyond domestic borders with an array of initiatives, actively managing both inbound and outbound international delegations.

Facilitating countless possibilities through market explorations and hosting delegations of various countries, CII CIES creates a robust platform for businesses to gain comprehensive and insightful understanding of global markets and their innovation ecosystem.

Delegation to Saudi Arabia

5^th - 9^th February 2023 | Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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CII organized a tech and startup delegation to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, coinciding with LEAP 2023 at the Riyadh Front Expo Centre. LEAP 2023, held under the patronage of H.E. Eng. Abdullah Amer-Al Swaha, Minister of Communications & IT, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a premier global platform for tech corporations, startups, and venture capitalists.

Key Highlights:

The CII delegation included unicorns, tech startups, incubators and entrepreneurs, led by Mr. Chacko Cherian, Director of Raw Data Technologies.
On 5th February, a business interaction session was organized by the Embassy of India, Riyadh, in collaboration with the Federation of Saudi Chambers. The session was chaired by HE Waleed H Aloranian and HE Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan.
From 6th to 9th February, the delegation attended LEAP 2023, exploring collaboration and networking opportunities with tech providers, investors, and key stakeholders from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Mr. Sumanth Indukuri, Director of AST Aerosystems Pvt LTd, signed an MoU with the Military Uniforms and Accessory Factory, Saudi Arabia. This agreement will enable AST Aerosystems to develop bulletproof safety systems and test them according to new Gulf standards.

The delegation engaged with the Embassy of India, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the Public Investment Fund, and various investors, exploring potential collaborations and market access opportunities.

The event showcased cutting-edge technologies and innovation, providing a global platform for the delegation to connect and grow.

CII Delegation to United Arab Emirates (UAE)

13 - 16 October 2025 | Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah | Abu Dhabi

The CII Centre of Excellence for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Startups (CII CIES) organised a delegation to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 13 - 16 October 2025, aimed at strengthening cross-border partnerships, enhancing market access, and promoting investment linkages between Indian startups and the UAE’s vibrant innovation ecosystem.

Key Highlights:

The visit coincided with GITEX Global and North Star 2025, two of the Middle East’s largest technology and startup events, offering Indian startups first-hand exposure to emerging technology trends and opportunities to connect with global investors, corporates, and policymakers.
Key engagements included a meeting with H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, to discuss India-UAE collaboration in AI, sustainability, and digital innovation, interactions with Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and RAK Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO) to explore startup establishment in UAE’s free zones and discussions with iAccel GBI and DIFC Innovation Hub on cross-border acceleration, fintech sandbox participation, and funding mechanisms.
Meetings in Abu Dhabi with industry leaders such as ADNOC and Mr. Bharat Sivappa (Ex-ADGM) provided startups with valuable insights into UAE’s innovation priorities across energy, sustainability, and regulatory frameworks.
The delegation comprised leading Indian startups representing DeepTech, ClimateTech, HealthTech, FinTech, and Smart Manufacturing sectors. Participants gained direct exposure to investment, incorporation, and collaboration opportunities across Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Abu Dhabi. The visit significantly reinforced the India-UAE innovation corridor, positioning Indian startups as global solution providers in emerging technologies.

Delegation to UAE

15^th - 19^th October 2023 | Dubai & Abu Dhabi

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Recognizing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region's significant role in India's economic and strategic interests, CII has actively worked to strengthen ties with GCC countries. As part of these efforts, CII organized a Startup Delegation to the UAE from 15th to 19th October 2023, coinciding with the GITEX Global and Expand North Star event in Dubai.

Key Highlights:

Delegation Composition: The delegation included members of the CII National Startup Council, Founders of Unicorns and growth stage startups. It was led by Mr. Kunal Bahl, Chairman of the CII National Startup Council and Co-founder & Chairman of AceVector Ltd.
GITEX Global: The delegation attended the largest startup expo, exploring collaboration and networking opportunities with tech providers, investors, and venture capitalists from the GCC and other countries.
The CII Startup Delegation to the UAE provided members with valuable opportunities to enhance market access, connect with investors, and promote talent mobility for technology startups in India and the GCC region.

CIES Startup Delegation to Singapore

27 - 31 October 2025 | Singapore

CII CIES (Centre of Excellence for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Startups) organized a startup delegation to Singapore to explore market opportunities, connect with potential investors and partners, and strengthen cross-border collaboration. The delegation comprised startups in Climate Tech, Sustainability, AI, and IT. It included exclusive corporate and investor engagements with leading Singaporean enterprises and venture capital firms, visits to top incubators and universities, and interactions with key government agencies supporting startups.

Key Highlights:

The visit coincided with SWITCH 2025, Asia’s premier innovation festival bringing together startups, investors, research institutions, corporates, and government agencies across diverse domains.
The programme featured meetings with Dr. Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, and discussed collaborations in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, maritime connectivity, digital innovation, and renewable energy; Mr. Patrick Lim, CEO of ACE Singapore, where both sides agreed to sign an MoU to foster cross-border startup development and capacity-building programmes with NUS-ISS; and with Mr. Khoong Chan Meng, CEO, and Mr. Melvern Ong, Head – International Programmes, NUS-ISS, who expressed interest in partnering with CIES to offer courses in Technopreneurship and emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and Machine Learning.
Further engagements included meetings with the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) to collaborate on fintech-focused capacity-building programmes and specialized training for startup board members, as well as with Enterprise Singapore where both parties discussed developing curated programmes to connect Indian and Singaporean startups and support global expansion.
The delegation also engaged with leading venture firms including Antler, PeakXV, Everstone Capital, Altara Ventures, Nalanda Capital, and Rippledot Advisors, conducting pitching sessions that generated strong investor interest. Additionally, interactions with corporates such as TCS, Forbes Marshall, and Bosch Business Innovations provided valuable insights into corporate innovation and co-development opportunities.
Visits to LaunchPad, BLOCK71, and Marina Barrage offered exposure to Singapore’s startup infrastructure and sustainability practices. Also, the delegation’s participation at SWITCH 2025 yielded several promising partnership opportunities and reinforced India’s reputation as a source of strong, scalable startup innovations in the global ecosystem.

CII Startup & Corporate Delegation to Australia

We are thrilled to announce the CII Startup & Corporate Delegation to Australia, scheduled from December 4th to 8th, 2023. The composition of the delegation will be 30 growth stage startups and corporates from across India, representing various sectors. This exciting journey will take us to Australia, where we will delve into the dynamic startup landscape and foster invaluable connections.

The objective is to provide Indian growth stage startups & Corporates with an opportunity to showcase the strength of Indian innovative startups and understand the international markets for their business growth and get introduced to innovative startups from Australia.

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