New Delhi, 26 June: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced that 1,000 advisory personnel will be deployed across India to help businesses understand and maximise the benefits of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, according to a statement by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The announcement comes ahead of the agreement’s expected implementation on 15 July.
Describing the India-UK CETA as India’s most comprehensive free trade agreement so far, the ministry said it is projected to increase bilateral trade between the two countries by GBP 25.5 billion annually.
Goyal made the announcement during the 10th Annual UK-India Week in London, where he participated in a series of high-level engagements focused on trade, investment and future economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to the minister, the government will also upgrade the trade portal to make it easier for Indian businesses to access information related to the agreement.
The move is expected to help exporters, MSMEs and first-time businesses understand market access opportunities, compliance requirements and sector-specific benefits under the trade pact.
Speaking at the India Global Forum Capital Frontiers Forum, Goyal said the India-UK partnership has moved beyond traditional trade and now covers strategic sectors such as technology, sovereign artificial intelligence, critical minerals, defence and clean energy.
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At a reception hosted by the High Commission of India and FICCI, Goyal also welcomed a large Indian business delegation to the United Kingdom.
The delegation included companies from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, along with several first-time exporters, reflecting the government’s effort to take global trade opportunities beyond major industrial hubs.
The minister said the agreement will also benefit eligible Indian professionals working in the United Kingdom.
Under the CETA framework, such professionals will receive a five-year exemption from social security contributions in the UK, allowing them to redirect savings into interest-bearing, tax-free provident fund accounts in India.
Goyal also highlighted the importance of sub-national economic partnerships, pointing to Birmingham-Gujarat and Manchester-Maharashtra linkages as examples of region-to-region cooperation that could drive future bilateral growth.
He urged Indian businesses to adopt international quality standards, build confidence around Brand India and use the agreement as an opportunity to strengthen trade and investment partnerships with the UK.
The agreement is expected to improve market access, enhance the competitiveness of Indian enterprises, support greater professional mobility and open new opportunities across goods, services and investment.
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