Strong ambitions backed by new trade deal
This mission builds on a landmark UK–India trade agreement signed in July, which reduces tariffs and opens doors for British exporters in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Under current forecasts, the deal is expected to boost UK GDP by £4.8 billion annually, raise wages by £2.2 billion, and increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion each year, with UK exports to India rising by nearly 60%.
Delegation & strategic sectors
The delegation includes household names such as Rolls-Royce, British Airways, Diageo, BT, and the London Stock Exchange.
Also taking part are small and medium enterprises from across the UK, universities, and cultural institutions, reflecting the wide range of sectors the government aims to promote in India.
Key highlights & expected gains
- India’s average tariff on UK goods will fall from 15 % to 3 %, making exports of everything from medical devices to cosmetics easier.
- Whisky exports stand to benefit immediately: tariff rates will drop from 150 % to 75 %, then further reduce to 40 % over ten years.
- British Airways plans to add a third daily London–Delhi flight in 2026 (pending approvals), and Manchester Airport will launch a direct route to Delhi, making it the only UK airport outside London with links to both Delhi and Mumbai.
- New direct air links are predicted to generate £50 million in exports, £25 million in tourism income, and create 450 new jobs in the Manchester area.
The Prime Minister will meet with his Indian counterpart to explore further collaboration in areas such as technology, artificial intelligence, telecoms, defence, and innovation.
This comes in the wake of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UK in July, when nearly £6 billion in investments and export deals were confirmed.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
