Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged businesses to deepen India–UK engagement and convert opportunities under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) into long-term trade and investment growth.
Highlights:
- Piyush Goyal called on businesses to maximize opportunities under India–UK CETA.
- Industry leaders stressed greater awareness of CETA among MSMEs and simpler regulations.
- Four knowledge reports were launched to help businesses leverage the trade pact.
- Healthcare, clean energy, manufacturing and technology emerged as key collaboration sectors.
- Business engagements in London reinforced strong momentum for bilateral trade and investment.
India and the United Kingdom are looking to accelerate economic cooperation as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal urged businesses from both countries to actively capitalize on opportunities created by the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Addressing the India–UK: Partners in Progress Business Plenary in London, the minister emphasized that sustained business engagement will be crucial in transforming the landmark trade agreement into tangible economic growth.
The plenary brought together leading industry representatives from India and the UK, who described CETA as a game-changing framework for boosting bilateral trade, attracting investments, strengthening resilient supply chains and promoting technology-led collaboration. The participants agreed that the agreement has the potential to deepen economic ties while opening new business opportunities across multiple sectors.
A major focus of the discussions was the effective implementation of CETA. Industry leaders highlighted the need to spread greater awareness of the agreement, particularly among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which are expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries. They also recommended simplifying regulatory procedures, easing certification requirements, strengthening industry partnerships and facilitating smoother talent mobility to help companies fully utilize the agreement.
To support businesses, Piyush Goyal launched four knowledge reports prepared by leading industry organizations. These include reports by FICCI, CII, UKIBC–HSBC and CareEdge, offering practical guidance, market insights and strategies to help companies identify investment opportunities and expand their presence in both markets.
Sector-specific recommendations were also presented during the event, covering healthcare, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, science and technology, consumer goods and services. Industry representatives emphasized that innovation, investment and closer collaboration between businesses will be key drivers of future growth under the trade pact.
The minister concluded his two-day business visit to the United Kingdom with an interaction with the Indian business delegation, where participants shared insights from meetings with potential partners and discussed emerging opportunities across sectors.
For Indian businesses, particularly MSMEs, the agreement is expected to improve market access, encourage exports, attract foreign investment and create new opportunities for technology partnerships. The government believes that strong collaboration between industry and policymakers will be essential to ensure that the benefits of CETA translate into higher trade volumes, increased investments and long-term economic growth for both nations.
