New Delhi: Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of LuLu Financial Holdings, has
been appointed as the Chair of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
(FICCI) Middle East Council.
The Council’s recent meeting in New Delhi was attended by a special delegation of the
Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by its Chairman HE Abdallah Sultan Al
Owais, as well as HE Satish Sivan, Joint Secretary of Development Partnership at the
Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Consul General Designate to Dubai
Adeeb is a multifaceted entrepreneur with business interests in financial services and
hospitality. His company LuLu Financial Holdings has a presence in 10 countries across the
Middle east, Indian sub-continent and Asia-Pacific regions, with investments in India including
the NBFC LuLu Finserv and cross-border payments company LuLu Forex spread across 40 cities,
apart from luxury hospitality assets.
Adeeb has been engaged with industry bodies in India for several years and is a known face for
his steadfast support in furthering the relationship between GCC countries and India. His
expertise in various domains and vehement support for the startup ecosystem are well
documented among the business community.
In his new role as Chair, Adeeb participated in the 6th meeting of the FICCI Middle East Council
held in New Delhi on Wednesday. During the meeting, council members, including Shailesh
Pathak, Secretary General of FICCI, Mr. Goutam Ghosh, Senior Director & Regional Head, Africa,
Middle East, South Asia, and Ms. Deepti Pant, Joint Director and Head, Africa, Middle East, and
South Asia, discussed the growing investment opportunities for businesses in both regions. They
also touched upon key initiatives planned for the upcoming year and identified country-wise
ambassadors from the business community.
Delegation from Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed
The summit welcomed a special delegation from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, headed by its Chairman, HE Abdallah Sultan Al Owais. Additionally, there was an
interactive session featuring HE Satish Sivan, Joint Secretary of Development Partnership at the
Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Consul General Designate to Dubai. Furthermore, a
presentation was conducted to highlight the opportunities in Oman’s Oil & Gas sector.
As per data from the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, bilateral trade between India
and the GCC countries has achieved new heights in recent times, surpassing the $150 billion
mark. The GCC countries have emerged as a key destination for Indian exports, absorbing more
than 10% of India’s total exports. Additionally, India’s imports from the GCC account for over
18% of the total import volume.
Established to promote trade and investment between India and the various GCC countries, the
FICCI Middle East Council has emerged as a meaningful platform for discussions aimed at
enhancing trade, fostering investment, and promoting cultural exchange.
In the last 12 months, the Council has held several events & discussions in association with
government representatives and business chambers from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain
to explore mutual synergies in diverse sectors.
