Shotbolt says agreement a “milestone in bilateral trade ties”
Deputy Trade Commissioner, South Asia, British High Commission in India, Anna Shotbolt has urged Indian exporters to align with sustainability and quality standards to capture premium segments of the UK market under the recently concluded India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) https://www.commerce.gov.in/.
Shotbolt described the Agreement as a “milestone in bilateral trade ties” at an outreach programme on CETA, themed “Gateway to Growth: Harnessing Opportunities under India–UK CETA”. The event brought together senior government officials, diplomats, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), industry leaders, and trade associations to deliberate on the transformative potential of the Agreement for Indian exporters.
Minister (Economic), High Commission of India in London, Nidhi Mani Tripathi, also shared practical insights on emerging opportunities for Indian businesses in the UK, particularly in food, textiles, and services https://www.bseindia.com/.
The Director General of Foreign Trade & Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ajay Bhadoo, also highlighted tariff concessions under CETA which is form expanding India’s footprint in the UK market https://www.nseindia.com/ .
Bhadoo informed delegates at a special forum about the simplified market access provisions, and the scope for Indian MSMEs to integrate more strongly with global value chains.
Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Saket Kumar, provided the background and strategic context of the negotiations, emphasising the government’s commitment to creating new opportunities for Indian industry https://fieo.org/.
The event placed strong emphasis on sectoral perspectives through active participation from India’s leading Export Promotion Councils.
APEDA chairman Abhishek Dev highlighted the growing demand for Indian agri and processed food products in the UK, noting that CETA provides a gateway for India to tap into niche categories such as ethnic foods, organic produce, and ready-to-eat products.
FIEO Director General Dr Ajay Sahai stressed the importance of multi-sector opportunities, urging exporters to look beyond traditional markets and adopt digital tools to reach UK buyers more efficiently.
The dialogue was further enriched by buyers’ perspectives, with General Secretary, Buying Agents Association, Anchal Kansal, stressing the importance of supply chain transparency and timely delivery in sustaining trust with UK buyers.
The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and HSBC also shared their views on fostering industry collaborations and building resilient supply chains to deepen India–UK trade.
The outreach programme marked a crucial step towards strengthening India–UK trade ties and positioning Indian exporters to make the most of this landmark Agreement, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on 29 Sept. fiinews.com
