New Delhi: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday announced the deployment of 1,000 advisory personnel across the country and the upgrade of the government’s trade portal to help businesses maximise the benefits of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which comes into force on July 15.
The announcement was made during the 10th Annual UK-India Week in London, where Goyal participated in a series of high-level engagements focused on expanding bilateral trade and investment under the new agreement.
The minister said the advisory network and upgraded trade portal would help businesses, particularly exporters, better understand and utilise the opportunities created by the India-UK CETA.
Billed as India’s most comprehensive free trade agreement to date, the CETA is projected to increase bilateral trade with the UK by GBP 25.5 billion annually, according to an official statement.
Addressing the India Global Forum’s Capital Frontiers Forum, Goyal said the India-UK partnership has evolved beyond traditional trade to include strategic sectors such as technology, sovereign AI, critical minerals, defence, and clean energy. He said the growing collaboration reflected the increasing depth and diversity of economic ties between the two countries.
At a reception hosted by the High Commission of India and FICCI, the minister welcomed the largest and most geographically diverse Indian business delegation to visit the United Kingdom. The delegation included companies from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as well as several first-time exporters.
Highlighting the benefits of the agreement for Indian professionals, Goyal said eligible professionals working in the United Kingdom would receive a five-year exemption from social security contributions. He said the savings could instead be invested in interest-bearing, tax-free provident fund accounts in India.
The minister also stressed the need to strengthen sub-national economic partnerships. He cited region-to-region collaborations such as Birmingham-Gujarat and Manchester-Maharashtra as important drivers of future bilateral growth.
Goyal said the India-UK CETA would improve market access, enhance the competitiveness of Indian businesses, facilitate greater mobility for professionals, and create new opportunities across goods, services, and investment.
Describing India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, he urged businesses to promote Brand India globally, adopt international quality standards, and build long-term partnerships with British companies.
He added that India’s strengths in manufacturing, services, and innovation, along with its stable business environment, offer significant opportunities for global collaboration and sustained economic growth.
