Business Sandesh Indian Newspaper | Articles | Opinion Pieces | Research Studies | Findings & News | Sandesh News
India and the United Kingdom have signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) aimed at expanding bilateral trade and enhancing market access. The agreement was formalized during a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reflecting the growing strategic importance of Indo-UK economic relations.
The pact was officially signed by Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds, in the presence of both heads of government. The CETA represents one of the most comprehensive trade accords between the two nations to date, setting the stage for accelerated trade flows, greater investment opportunities, and deeper economic engagement across multiple sectors.
Industry bodies across India have lauded the agreement, calling it a transformative step with the potential to unlock significant growth. The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC India) welcomed the move, citing strong performance in engineering exports to the UK—up 11.7% from USD 3.59 billion in 2023–24 to USD 4.01 billion in 2024–25. The council noted that this trend underlines the UK’s rising prominence as a destination for Indian engineering products.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) described the FTA as a major advancement for sectors including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, services, and auto components, noting the immense potential for Indian businesses to benefit from broader and more secure market access.
Similarly, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hailed the agreement as a milestone that will reshape bilateral economic ties. In a statement on social media platform X, CII highlighted the pact’s emphasis on technology investments, global supply chain diversification, and enhanced ease of doing business between the two economies.
With this agreement, India and the UK are poised to usher in a new era of economic partnership—rooted in shared goals, mutual prosperity, and long-term strategic collaboration.
