- 125 UK CEOs, entrepreneurs, university vice chancellors and cultural leaders are travelling with the Prime Minister on a two-day trade mission to Mumbai
- Visit seeks to build on the momentum from the UK-India trade deal, signed in July, which will lower tariffs and open up access for British businesses to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world
- Prime Minister will seek to unlock new opportunities, secure investments and seal deals that drive growth and create jobs for British people
LONDON, England – One hundred and twenty-five of the UK’s most prominent CEOs, leading entrepreneurs, university vice chancellors and cultural institutions will join prime minister Keir Starmer on a trade mission to India this week in pursuit of growth and jobs at home.
Following the signature of the landmark UK-India trade deal in July, which will lower tariffs on British goods being imported into India, the door is now open for British businesses to turbocharge their trade with one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
Major household names such as Rolls-Royce, British Telecom, Diageo, London Stock Exchange and British Airways will join the prime minister’s delegation as he promises to secure opportunities for them to grow and expand into the Indian market – delivering growth and supporting jobs at home.
Growing SMEs and entrepreneurs from every region of country will also travel with the Prime Minister, in recognition that the trade deal will break down barriers and support businesses of all shapes and sizes to trade more easily with India.
The 125-strong delegation marks the largest ever government trade mission to India.
The trade deal has been acknowledged as the best agreement ever secured by any country with India. Under current projections, it is set to increase UK GDP by £4.8 billion each year, add £2.2 billion to wages and benefit communities right across the country.
It is expected to raise bilateral trade by £25.5 billion per year, with UK exports to India projected to grow by nearly 60 percent.
The prime minister will personally commit to unlocking opportunities for Great British business to grow and expand during his two-day visit – securing investments and sealing deals that directly benefit the British people.
India is one of the fastest-growing economies globally, currently the fourth largest and projected to become the third largest by 2028.
Prime Minister Starmer said:
“We signed a major trade deal with India in July – the best secured by any country – but the story doesn’t stop there. It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth. With India set to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, and trade with them about to become quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled.
“That’s why I’ll be flying the flag for British business alongside 125 of our biggest household names in Mumbai this week – because growth in India for them means more choice, opportunity and jobs at home for the British people.”
Business and trade secretary Peter Kyle said:
“We’ve shown there is no limit on our ambition to grow trade with India – in less than a year we’ve gone from restarting talks on a deal, to bringing 125 brilliant business leaders to its commercial capital. Our deal is the best any country has ever secured with India and places British businesses at the front of the queue to access a huge and ever-growing market.
“Now we are hitting the ground running and using every means necessary to ready businesses to take full advantage of the massive wins we’ve secured once the deal comes into force so we can deliver growth, jobs, and prosperity at home.”
Thanks to the deal, India’s average tariff on UK products will drop from 15 to 3 percent – which means British companies selling products to India, from soft drinks and cosmetics to cars and medical devices, will find it easier to sell to the Indian market.
Whisky producers have particularly benefited from tariffs being reduced immediately from 150 to 75 percent, and then dropped even further to 40 percent over the next ten years – giving the UK an advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market.
The deal particularly benefits SMEs, as improved customs and digital commitments will make trade quicker, cheaper, and easier. In addition, bespoke support for SMEs, such as dedicated contact points, will help them enter the Indian market. A number of SMEs are travelling with the prime minister as they look to expand into India, hopefully creating an entire new generation of business.
It comes as British Airways has today confirmed it will introduce a third daily flight between Delhi and London Heathrow in 2026, subject to regulatory and capacity approval, and will look for further growth opportunities in the country as trade between the UK and India increases.
Fourteen university vice chancellors and representatives will also join the delegation in recognition of the explosion in demand for higher education in India – with 70 million places needed by 2035, which has created a huge opportunity for UK universities seeking new funding streams.
Some of the UK’s biggest cultural institutions such as the British Film Institute and the National Theatre will also attend – opening new doors for creative exports, co-productions, museum and heritage partnerships, talent exchange, and joint initiatives across film, fashion, sport, and digital culture.
The visit follows prime minister Modi’s trip to the UK in July, where the trade deal was signed and nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins were confirmed – creating 2,200 UK jobs.
This momentum showcases the potential that an enhanced trading relationship with India can have on UK growth and jobs, with the Prime Minister determined to keep prioritising his international relationships for the benefit of the British people.
The prime minister will also meet with prime minister Modi on Thursday, for talks on strengthening the UK-India relationship even further, including via the Technology Security Initiative originally signed a year ago.
In recognition of technology as an engine for growth in the UK and beyond, the two leaders will aim to enhance the UK-India partnership across artificial intelligence, telecoms and defence technology – creating new opportunities for businesses to invest and grow, while bolstering our national security.
India is fast becoming one of the world’s most significant technology players – with a tech sector expected to be valued at £1 trillion by 2030.
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