$250 Million IGF Initiative Positions Indian Brands for Global Expansion Through Dubai Hub

India Global Forum has launched an ambitious $250 million investment vehicle designed to accelerate Indian consumer and industrial enterprises seeking international markets. The fund, stewarded by Ved Family Office—the investment platform of Nilesh Ved and Ananta Capital—represents a strategic convergence of growth capital, logistics infrastructure, and cross-border market access centered in Dubai.

The Investment Architecture Behind Indian Global Expansion

The fund operates as a comprehensive growth platform rather than traditional venture capital. Led by Ved Family Office (the investment arm of Apparel Group, a major Middle East retail operator) and Ananta Capital (a Mumbai-based firm that has previously supported ventures including BellaVita, Open Secret, and LiquiLoans), the initiative addresses a critical market moment: Indian entrepreneurship has matured to the point where homegrown brands are ready to compete in international markets.

Nilesh Ved characterized the opportunity as follows: “The UAE has functioned as a crucial connector between Indian companies and global demand. As lead investors, we recognize tremendous potential in backing Indian enterprises that can establish themselves globally from Dubai’s ecosystem.”

Sectors and Markets in the Fund’s Scope

The program targets specific high-potential sectors: food and beverage, consumer goods, chemicals, automotive components, and advanced manufacturing. Geographic focus areas span the Middle East, Africa, and Europe—markets representing over three billion consumers with accelerating growth trajectories.

The initiative includes an embedded accelerator component, providing participating companies with logistics coordination, investor introductions, and market-entry strategies within a single operating framework. According to Abdullah Al Hashmi of DP World GCC, “Dubai’s advanced trade infrastructure and regional connectivity position it as an optimal launchpad for Indian enterprises seeking to penetrate fast-expanding consumer bases across multiple continents.”

Strategic Rationale and Market Timing

Ashutosh Taparia, managing partner at Ananta Capital, articulated the fund’s investment thesis: “Indian enterprises have reached a development stage where they can build category-leading, globally competitive businesses. By providing patient capital and strategic partnership, we enable founders to scale operations internationally.”

Manoj Ladwa, founder of India Global Forum, framed the broader context: “India continues producing brands with genuine global potential. Through this $250 million commitment, we’re creating structured pathways where Indian entrepreneurship intersects with world-class logistics infrastructure, institutional capital, and international consumer demand.”

The program reflects deepening India-UAE economic collaboration, with the fund designed to serve as a catalyst for Indian businesses leveraging the UAE’s established trade networks and regulatory frameworks to access markets across three continents.