Noida: In a landmark initiative, the International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry (ICMEI) and BBMG Foundation invited a distinguished delegation of the British Army to Marwah Studios and AAFT, marking the first-ever official visit of British Army members to India under this cultural and professional exchange.

The delegation was led by Maj. Gen. John Kendall, with the visit supported by the BBMG Foundation and the Indo UK Film and Cultural Forum, as part of the ongoing Indo–UK Free Trade Collaboration.

Dr. Sandeep Marwah, President of ICMEI, Ambassador of Wales to India, and Chair of the Indo UK Film and Cultural Forum and Indo Wales Creative Forum, welcomed the delegation with great warmth. He spoke in detail about his long-standing and dynamic relationship with the United Kingdom across art, culture, education, and diplomacy. He said that India and the UK share deep-rooted historical, cultural, and creative bonds, and such interactions strengthen bilateral cooperation at multiple levels.

The special guest for the event, former Mayor of the London Borough of Southwark, Sunil Chopra, addressed the gathering and spoke about Indo–UK relations. He said the growing collaboration between both nations in culture, education, and defence is a strong pillar for future global partnerships.

Dr. Gaurav Hans of the BBMG Foundation expressed appreciation for ICMEI’s efforts in fostering meaningful dialogue and enhancing the scope of Indo–UK collaboration.

Maj. Gen. John Kendall thanked ICMEI for its hospitality and emphasized the importance of such exchanges in building mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations. Maj. Munish Chauhan also shared insights on the evolving synergy between India and the UK.

Several distinguished members of the British Army addressed the gathering and shared their experiences, including: Lt. Col Alice Archer, WO1 Ashok Chauhan, WO2 Sarvjit Singh, Maj. Hina Morjaria, Capt. Kamaldeep Sandhu, WO2 Aniket Shah, WO2 Simranjit Singh, Sgt. Jaspinderjit Singh, Cpl. Ranjiv Sangwan, and Sqn Ldr. Mandeep Kaur.

The interaction covered themes of culture, leadership, global cooperation, and the role of media in strengthening international relations. As a gesture of respect and goodwill, Dr. Sandeep Marwah honoured all the dignitaries with a special memento and conferred upon them the membership of the Indo UK Film and Cultural Forum.

This historic visit marks a significant step in expanding Indo–UK cultural diplomacy and strengthening bridges between the armed forces and creative industries of both nations.