The central government will organise 1,000 outreach programmes over the next 20 days to familiarise domestic industry with the newly signed India-UK free trade agreement (FTA), which aims to increase exports to the United Kingdom to $56 billion (₹4.68 lakh-crore) by 2030.
The government said it will conduct 1,000 outreach programmes nationwide soon to ensure effective implementation of the economic and trade agreement (CETA) maximise benefits for Indian industry.
The outreach efforts will include stakeholder consultations, awareness workshops, sector-specific meetings, and feedback sessions. These are aimed at helping exporters and manufacturers better understand the agreement’s provisions and leverage new market opportunities.
India and the UK signed the landmark CETA on July 24. The agreement is expected to reduce or eliminate tariffs on 99 percent of Indian exports to the UK, while also offering reciprocal benefits on select British goods entering the Indian market.
Officials said the Centre has directed various ministries to conduct sector-wise outreach programmes tailored to the needs of specific industries. Teams will travel across Indian states to disseminate key information about the trade pact and explain how different sectors can benefit.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is set to meet representatives from the leather and textile sectors on July 28. He said he plans to conduct consultations with all major sectors during the ongoing Parliament session, followed by visits to various states.
He also plans to travel to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to engage with fishing communities about the trade deal’s implications for seafood exports.
Further, Goyal will visit key technology hubs—including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Gurugram—to explain how the new Double Contribution Convention (DCC) under the FTA could support services exports.
Further, Goyal will visit key technology hubs—including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Gurugram—to explain how the new Double Contribution Convention (DCC) under the FTA could support services exports. “We will be sensitising sectors to make the most of this agreement,” Goyal was quoted as saying.
The FTA is expected to boost the export potential of several Indian traditional and artisanal products. Among the goods identified are Bhagalpur silk (Bihar), Pashmina shawls (Jammu & Kashmir), Kolhapuri chappals (Maharashtra), Thanjavur dolls (Tamil Nadu), Baluchari sarees (West Bengal), Bandhani textiles (Gujarat), Kanchipuram sarees and Tiruppur knitwear.
“These products may soon find greater visibility in retail outlets and malls across the UK,” an official said.
Goyal added that delegations will be sent to the UK in the coming months to prepare the groundwork for implementation while the UK Parliament considers the agreement for approval.
Once operational, the deal will remove 99 percent of tariffs on Indian goods, while India will reciprocate by lowering duties on a range of UK-made products. Both nations aim to raise bilateral trade to $56 billion (₹4.68 lakh crore) by 2030.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)
