The Trade Promotion Council of India has signed an MoU with the UK-India Business Council and organised a major food and beverage trade event in London, aiming to convert the India-UK CETA into new business opportunities for exporters and SMEs.
New Delhi, October 21 — The Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC) and organised a major India-UK food and beverage trade event in London as part of efforts to deepen commercial ties between the two countries.
The initiatives follow the entry into force of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) on July 15, 2026.
Under the MoU, TPCI and UKIBC will create a dedicated framework for institutional business collaboration, with focus on connecting companies, facilitating trade missions, sharing market intelligence and creating growth opportunities for small and medium enterprises in India and the UK.
Alongside the MoU signing, TPCI organised a B2B matchmaking event in London on October 15, bringing together 48 Indian exporting companies and 150 UK-based importers.
The food and beverage segment is expected to emerge as an important area of opportunity under the new trade framework.
According to TPCI, the UK imports around $50.68 billion worth of processed food annually, while India currently accounts for only 0.6%, or about $309.5 million, leaving significant scope for expansion.
CETA has eliminated several tariffs that previously affected Indian exporters, including duties of up to 70% on processed foods, 4.2-8.5% on shrimp and tariffs on instant coffee.
TPCI Chairman Mohit Singla said the MoU marks a shift in India-UK trade engagement “from policy to partnership” and is aimed at ensuring that the post-FTA momentum translates into tangible commercial outcomes.
TPCI representatives also held meetings with the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Scotch Whisky Association.
The discussions focused on business support, trade expansion, investment and opportunities emerging after the implementation of the bilateral trade agreement.
The India-UK Food & Beverage Trade Promotion Event was inaugurated by Rakesh Dahiya, First Secretary (Trade, Tourism and OCI) at the High Commission of India; Mohit Singla, Chairman of TPCI; and Stephen Crisp, Director at UKIBC.
Industry organisations including DP World, State Bank of India UK and Deloitte also conducted knowledge sessions covering supply chains, market access and financial structuring under CETA.
According to TPCI, bilateral trade between India and the UK reached £48 billion, or around $65 billion, in FY2025-26.
With around 99% of Indian tariff lines entering the UK duty-free under CETA, TPCI expects Indian food exporters to expand beyond the UK’s 1.86 million-strong Indian diaspora and build a larger presence across mainstream retail and food-service markets.
