India North England Opportunity Summit will mark year since consulate opened in Manchester
Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester (Image: Consulate General of India in Manchester)
The growing business links between India and the North of England will be celebrated by hundreds of business leaders and policymakers at a summit this month.
The India North England Opportunity Summit will take place at Emirates Old Trafford a year after the Consulate General of India (CGI) opened in Manchester, and as the new trade deal between the UK and India is set to come into force.
Over the past year, the CGI has helped grow links between India and the North by helping Indian firms looking to invest here and by encouraging local firms to explore the Indian market. It’s also welcomed improved connections between Manchester Airport and India, with the launch of direct flights from Manchester Airport to Delhi and new weekly services to Mumbai.
India is already one of the UK’s biggest trading partners, with bilateral trade worth more than £41bn in 2024. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, signed last July, is designed to boost that bilateral trade by some £25.5 billion a year. It eliminates tariffs on 99% of Indian goods entering the UK and 64% of UK goods entering India immediately, ultimately rising to 85%.
Speakers at the summit on March 20 are set to include Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Jonathan Reynolds and Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig, alongside Angela Rayner MP and many inbvestoirs and business leaders.
Vishakha Yaduvanshi, consul general of India in Manchester, said: “With the India-UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement soon coming into force this is an important moment to strengthen relationships and ensure businesses across the North are ready to seize the opportunities ahead.
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“Since launching in Manchester a year ago, the Indian Consulate in Manchester has played an important role in facilitating business connections between India and the North of England. We are committed to building on that momentum by being the catalyst that brings policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry together.
“It’s an exciting time and we are delighted to continue to support business relationships between the UK and India so we can all grow together.”
For more information on the event on March 20 at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford, visit www.indianorthenglandsummit.com