UK India Business Council @UKIBC

UKIBC is delighted to form a strategic partnership with The Great North to support the first-ever joint Northern mayoral mission to India. The UK - India trade agreement has opened up exciting opportunities for businesses and regions across the UK. The focus is now on turning this potential into meaningful outcomes through stronger trade, investment and long-lasting economic partnerships. The mission, taking place from 12 - 16 October, will bring together #Northern #Mayors, businesses, universities and civic leaders to strengthen ties with one of the world's fastest growing economies. As strategic and knowledge partner and programme manager for The Great North's India programme, UKIBC will work closely with regions across the North to help identify opportunities, build market strategies, foster relationships and create impactful engagements in India. The North of England is home to world class strengths in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, life sciences, digital and technology, financial services and creative industries. By combining the collective strength of the North with the unique capabilities of individual regions, this mission aims to create lasting economic value on both sides.

Last week, as a proud Partner of the #Scotland–India #Business #Forum 2026, UK India Business Council was delighted to support a landmark event strengthening Scotland–India economic ties following the UK–India CETA. The event opened with keynote addresses from senior leaders from the Scottish and Indian Governments, setting the stage for a day focused on strengthening bilateral economic ties. UKIBC was proud to play a central role throughout the programme by: - Launching our latest research report for the Scottish Government on opportunities in India. - Sharing insights on where Scotland's strengths align with India's growing market. - Moderating discussions offering practical guidance for Scottish businesses looking to enter and grow in India. The session explored opportunities across trade, investment, life sciences, food & drink, innovation and long-term partnerships. A big thank you to our partners, speakers and delegates for making the Forum a success. We look forward to continuing to strengthen Scotland–India trade and investment. #ScotlandIndia #UKIndia #Trade #Investment #CETA #Innovation #UKIBC Richard Rollison | Kumaran Periasamy | Stephen Flynn | Harsh Sanghavi Nandita Sahgal | Bhaskar Thota | Nidhi Mani Tripathi | David Barnes | Amanda Brooks CB CBE | John P. | Reuben Aitken | Charandeep Singh BEM | Tavish Scott | Raghav Singhal | Sanjeev Vijh | Frank Bugg | Dr Chris Cook | Gopalan Rajagopalan

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The past year has marked a significant step forward for the UK–India partnership. With the Entry into Force of the UK–India #CETA and a renewed roadmap for collaboration through to 2035, the two countries are strengthening cooperation across critical and emerging technologies. This year also marks the second anniversary of the UK–India Technology and Security Initiative (#TSI)—an important milestone in the bilateral partnership. Looking ahead, there is a strong opportunity to build on this momentum and deepen collaboration between government and industry in areas that will define the future of technology. This Friday in New Delhi, UKIBC's UK–India Technology and Security Initiative (#TSI) Reception will bring together leaders from across the UK and India to discuss the priorities and opportunities that will shape the next phase of the TSI—an initiative set to play an important role in advancing UK–India tech diplomacy and strengthening cooperation across the wider Indo-Pacific.

VIDEO | London: “The India-UK trade deal will put us on the right growth curve for the future”, says Kishore Jayaraman, Group CEO of the UK India Business Council. (Full video available on PTI Videos - ptivideos.com)

The #UKIndiaFTA is now #Live With bilateral trade already valued at £48 billion, this landmark agreement is set to unlock billions more in economic opportunities. Today's milestone is the result of years of dedication, collaboration, and sustained effort. As India's most comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (#FTA) to date, the #UKIndiaFTA will drive growth, create jobs, expand business opportunities, and strengthen the economic partnership between the UK and India for years to come.

We are few days away from the UK-India Comprehensive Trade Agreement, entering into force. The deal, which is the most comprehensive ever agreed by India, could boost UK GDP by £4.8bn, real wages by £2.2bn and bilateral trade by £25.5bn every year in the long run. UKIBC is on a mission to grow the UK-India trade and investment. To do that, we provide strategic and practical support to businesses and universities to explore, enter, and expand in both markets. #CETA #UKIndiaFTA #SavetheDate #UKIBC

#NDTVExclusive | India-UK FTA: 3 Pillars Shaking Global Markets | UKIBC CEO Kishore Jayaraman EXCLUSIVE  @NewshoundArjun

The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) was pleased to host a delegation of senior faculty from University College London (@ucl ) during its recent visit to India. As part of our ongoing programme to support leading UK universities in strengthening engagement with Indian industry, we brought together a select group of senior HR and talent leaders for an interactive High Tea discussion with UCL leaders. The session provided a valuable platform to explore graduate employability, evolving workforce needs, skills development, and opportunities for deeper industry–academia collaboration. As one of the world’s leading research universities, UCL’s engagement highlights the growing importance of UK–India partnerships in shaping future talent, driving innovation, and building stronger connections between higher education and industry. Thank you to all participants for sharing their perspectives and insights. We look forward to continuing to foster meaningful collaborations between UK institutions and Indian businesses. #UKIBC #UKIndia #HigherEducation #IndustryAcademia #UCL #TalentDevelopment #SkillsForTheFuture #UKIndiaPartnership #Education #Collaboration

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Introducing UKIBC FTA Trade Talk – Policy to Practice — a new interview series bringing together expert voices from across the UKIBC network to unpack the opportunities, implications, and practical realities of the UK–India Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement (CETA) As businesses across both markets prepare for the next phase of UK–India economic engagement, this series aims to move the conversation from policy to action — offering timely insights, strategic perspectives, and on-the-ground expertise. In Episode 2, Richard McCallum discussed the growing importance of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a catalyst for deeper defence and aerospace cooperation between the two countries. The conversation highlighted how the agreement could move the partnership beyond traditional trade relationships towards long-term strategic collaboration, co-development, and co-production: lnkd.in/en7GdxWY

UKIBC was delighted to support the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants & CIMA RISE 2040 Conference in Bangalore. The event brought together CFOs and business leaders from across India to discuss the future of the accounting and finance profession. UKIBC’s Senior Advisor Richard McCallum spoke on the GCC Panel: India’s Next Decade. According to nasscom there are now 2,117 GCCs in India. UK headquartered companies account for over 130 centres – second only to those from the USA – and employ approximately 200,000 people in India. The panel discussed emerging trends in the macro #GCC landscape including: the role of AI, talent development, the GCC maturity arc and the impact of fast-changing geopolitical environment. Richard McCallum | Venkkat Ramanan | Ajay Lalwani

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Thrilled to see our #Agrifood and #Drinks sector expert Shubhi Mishra sharing her invaluable insights with DBT and industry colleagues, sparking meaningful discussions on alcobev opportunities. With extensive expertise in policies, regulations, and market dynamics - for her it’s always a delight to sit and talk with like-minded stakeholders. With #CETA on the horizon, we’re excited for the doors they’ll open between economies—unlocking trade, innovation, and growth. Can’t wait for this chapter to unfold! What alcobev policy trends are you watching? Let’s connect. #Alcobev #FTA #IndiaTrade #ExportExcellence #Bilateraltrade #UKIndia #incredibleindia

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India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing sector is at a critical turning point. In a candid conversation, Kishore Jayaraman, OBE, Group CEO, UK India Business Council, shares why India has moved beyond cost advantages, what it takes to become a global manufacturing leader, and why co-creation and quality will define the next phase. India’s manufacturing journey has often been seen through the lens of “potential.” But according to Kishore Jayaraman, Group CEO, UK India Business Council, that narrative is now changing from aspiration to execution. See the full article below: lnkd.in/gJmBjVDF

Exciting step forward for UK–India collaboration UK India Business Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with @TWorksHyd Foundation, a leading Manufacturing Innovation Incubation Cell for industries & promoting Startup & MSME Innovation through being India's largest prototyping centre, Government of Telangana works to encourage Startups and MSMEs in various sectors such as Electronics, Aerospace, Defence, Agriculture, Health, Environment and Textiles. This collaboration will enable UK businesses to ideate, prototype, and scale in India, while opening global opportunities for Indian startups and MSMEs. Looking forward to driving innovation and building stronger cross-border ecosystems together. Look at the full statement here: lnkd.in/ey4vQUE6 #UKIndia #Innovation #Manufacturing #Collaboration Kishore Jayaraman, OBE | Gareth Wynn Owen | Joginder Tanikella | British High Commission in India

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We are pleased to announce that UK India Business Council (UKIBC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with @TheCityUK in Delhi. Headquartered in London, @TheCityUK is the industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services (FRPS). The sector it represents is a vital national asset, contributing 12% of the UK’s total economic output and employing nearly 2.5 million people, with around two-thirds of these roles based outside London across the UK’s regions and nations. This MOU marks an important step forward in strengthening UK–India collaboration across key areas including: - Green and Sustainable Finance - Capital Markets Connectivity - Insurance - Policy advocacy and more We look forward to working closely together to unlock new opportunities and drive impactful partnerships across both markets. Kishore Jayaraman, OBE | Zhouchen Mao, PhD | Nicola Watkinson (she/her)

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We held our 3rd Annual Dialogue on Future of Work, in New Delhi. The engaging session brought together representation from leaders from #government, #industry, and #academia to explore how the #UK and #India can collaboratively shape a future-ready workforce. The session highlighted opportunities for co-creation and co-development through embedded education programmes, apprenticeships and internships, stronger industry–academia linkages, and a greater role for industry associations in enabling real-world learning experiences for students. It also emphasised strengthened STEM collaboration and the imperative of co-existing with AI. Some of the themes that emerged were- #Learning #to #Learn- Upskilling for middle management, Flexibility- Bringing new mothers back into workforce, Acknowledging that AI conversation can be limited to “creamy layer” of the workforce and efforts on digital literacy need to be more inclusive. We were honoured to hear special remarks from Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association Of Indian Universities, who underscored the need for curricula to evolve in line with technological change. We extend our sincere thanks to all our speakers and UKIBC members for their valuable insights, which made the discussion well-rounded, engaging, and forward-looking. With the UK–India FTA opening up deeper conversations around skilling, mobility, and mutual recognition of qualifications, the Dialogue reaffirmed a shared commitment to building a more agile, future-ready workforce. Nitin Razdan | Monika Rawat | Deep Narayan | Sundeep Jakhar | Abhilash Nair | Girish Balachandran | Karam Grover | Prashant Gupta | Mansi Goyal Kishore Jayaraman, OBE | Surbhi Mathur | Nishtha Grover | Ananyaa Girhotra | Astha Katyayan | Amanpreet Singh

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We are delighted to welcome Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal Secretary General of the Association Of Indian Universities (AIU), to the UKIBC Dialogue: Future of Work. A distinguished leader in higher education, she is the second woman to hold the position of Secretary General in AIU’s 100-year history. She also serves as Chief Commissioner (Guides) at Bharat Scouts and Guides, contributing significantly to youth development and leadership in India. We look forward to her special remarks, fireside chat and valuable insights as we explore the evolving landscape of work, skills, and education. #UKIBC #FutureOfWork #Leadership #HigherEducation #IndiaUK #Dialogue

We’re pleased to introduce the moderators for our upcoming Future of Work Dialogue on April 8, 2026 in New Delhi. Karam Grover will be moderating the first panel on 'Enhancing Employability and Productivity' and brings over a decade of experience advising organisations on navigating India’s regulatory ecosystem, with deep expertise across healthcare, sustainability, skill development, and technology. His work focuses on aligning policy, business strategy, and public understanding. Girish Balachandran will be moderating the second panel 'Designing Future Ready Workspaces' and is a seasoned communications leader with 25+ years of global experience across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India. As Founder of ON PURPOSE, he has worked with leading global institutions including UNICEF, UNDP, USAID, and the Gates Foundation. Stay tuned as there are some truly knowledgeable speakers who will share insights into the Future of Work in the years ahead. We look forward to an engaging and insightful conversation led by two accomplished voices as we explore the evolving landscape of work. #FoW #AI #Innovation #Tech #UkIndia

Maharashtra's automotive manufacturing sector stands to gain significantly from the CETA's tariff eliminations on auto parts from 18% to 0% effectively immediately. 3% of India’s $21.2 billion auto component exports go to the UK and Maharashtra contributes significantly to this. Under the CETA, this trade relationship can expand beyond volume expand beyond volume increases to encompass deeper technological collaboration. It creates opportunities for Maharashtra's component manufacturers to participate in joint ventures with UK entities, particularly in electric vehicle components and manufacturing technologies. Download the report today: lnkd.in/eKQ3W4z6

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We were delighted to support the #ETDeftech Summit 2026 as a 'Supporting Association Partner', reinforcing our commitment to strengthening UK–India collaboration in defence and advanced technologies. India’s defence story is no longer just about reducing imports. It is about building the confidence, capability, and partnerships needed to compete globally. Our UKIBC Senior Advisor, Richard McCallum also had the opportunity to speak at the event, where he highlighted the growing momentum in UK–India defence cooperation, the importance of innovation-led partnerships, and the critical role of industry collaboration in building resilient and future-ready supply chains.  UKIBC believes that there is a need to foster deeper engagement between startups, SMEs, and large enterprises to accelerate technology development and deployment. A big thank you to the organisers and all participants for insightful discussions on the future of defence and security. @ETManufacturing #Deftech #defence #trade #UKIndia

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The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) warmly welcomes the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) notification, endorsed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), on the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on March 11, 2026. This progressive update ensures licenses and registrations remain perpetually valid—without repeat applications—as long as annual fees and returns are submitted on time, easing compliance for food businesses of all scales. These reforms advance Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), align with UN SDGs 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and are anticipated to help advance bilateral trade ties between India (world's 4th largest economy) and the UK (6th largest) as businesses expand in these leading global economies. Look at full news here: lnkd.in/e9vHr4J7