Dishaa Launches - 21.10.10

Delhi, India: Dishaa - an initiative for future leaders in the United Kingdom and India, will be launched at the British High Commission in Delhi in partnership with Common Purpose tonight.

Dishaa will provide insights into the future of UK-India relations while investing in future leadership development across India and the United Kingdom. The initiative was first announced by British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in July 2010.

The Prime Minister outlined the aim of the initiative; which is to expand, enrich and energise relations between India and the UK by investing in the next generation of leaders. The initiative will develop shared approaches in both countries to 21st Century political, economic and social challenges.

"Dishaa is Hindi for direction. Dishaa enables future leaders to see how much can be gained through links between the UK and India as they set the direction for their lives and careers," said Dishaa Advisory Group Chair, Sudhakar Rao.

The Dishaa Advisory Group will set the challenge for the group of 40 participants in the first stage of the initiative today.

Participants in Dishaa will be from diverse fields, including civil society, arts, media, government and business in India and the UK. The initiative will commence in Pune, India, early next year. Participants will report back their findings to the challenge to a panel of policy experts in the summer.

Dishaa is run by Common Purpose in partnership with the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The initiative is sponsored by Barclays, Cisco, Kingfisher Airways, PwC, Tilda and UBM. The venue at Pune, kind courtesy Tata Management Training Centre.

- Ends.