India-UK FTA talks progress encouraging, says British industry expert

The last round of free trade agreement negotiations concluded on February 10 and is expected to begin again next month

At the conclusion of the seventh round of India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations and ahead of the eighth round scheduled in New Delhi next month, a senior industry expert in the U.K. believes there are encouraging signs of appetite on both sides to agree a deal and fully utilise its benefits.

Syma Cullasy-Aldridge is the Chief Campaigns Director at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and has just returned after leading the group’s first-ever business delegation to New Delhi and Mumbai aimed at unlocking opportunities of a potential FTA.

The Indian-origin campaigns chief for the industry body, which speaks on behalf of 1,90,000 U.K. businesses of all sizes and sectors, described the visit as “really, really brilliant” in highlighting the immense scope for partnership and collaboration across key sectors.

“What really struck me was the opportunity and appetite on both sides for collaboration and partnership around key sectors like green finance, innovation and new technology – areas where there are skills and education on both sides,” said Ms. Cullasy-Aldridge.

“The seventh round was on here while we were in India. It's encouraging to see negotiations progressing and also encouraging to see appetite on both sides to make sure that we do agree [a trade deal] and then utilise it well,” she said.

The last round of talks concluded on February 10.

Ms. Cullasy-Aldridge highlighted a recent Cabinet mini-shuffle by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak which brought the government's trade and business departments together under Secretary of State Kemi Badenoch and termed it a “really good thing”.