Northern England mayors to lead major India trade mission this October

A delegation of mayors, business leaders, university representatives, and civic officials from northern England is scheduled to travel to India this October for a trade mission. The initiative, titled the Great North Mayor Mission, is set to take place from October 12 to 16.

The mission is supported by a strategic partnership between the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and HSBC UK. The primary objective of the delegation is to identify investment opportunities following the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which seeks to at least double the current annual bilateral trade figure of 47.9 billion pounds.

Kishore Jayaraman, Group CEO of UKIBC, stated that the mission aims to translate the trade agreement into tangible investment, job creation, and business growth. He noted that the UKIBC intends to leverage its networks and presence in India to assist northern regions in developing lasting economic relationships.

The mission will begin with a collective program in Delhi, after which individual regions will pursue activities tailored to their specific economic strengths and priorities. The northern England economy, which encompasses 16 million people and 1.1 million businesses, is valued at over 340 billion pounds.

Stephanie Betant, Head of Global Trade Solutions at HSBC UK, emphasized that the mission is designed to convert the momentum generated by the free trade agreement into practical outcomes, including new trade links and investment pipelines. The UKIBC is currently working with regional authorities to develop market strategies and facilitate engagement with Indian businesses and institutions.

Article source: easterneye.biz | Image credit: EasternEye