Photo: Mayor David Skaith will be heading to India with colleagues from the Great North.
North of England delegation heads to India to seize £450m-a-year trade opportunity
Northern Mayors will lead a coalition from across the North of England to India next week to seize economic opportunities unlocked by the new UK–India Free Trade Agreement.
The UK-India FTA could increase economies in the North of England by £450 million a year in the long run, with Mayors leading the visit to secure new investment, jobs, help businesses grow and attract more talent and visitors to the North.
Nearly 200 representatives from across the North – bringing together mayors, businesses, universities and leaders from tourism, culture and sport – will promote the North’s economic opportunity. It is the first visit to India since the FTA came into effect, and represents the first time the North of England has joined forces to promote itself on the global stage.
The Northern delegation, delivered in partnership with HSBC, will be led by mayors through The Great North, working alongside the UK Government. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will join Northern leaders for part of the mission, alongside a senior UK business delegation.
The mission will take the North's investment and trade proposition directly to one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, with Northern leaders targeting new Indian investment, helping Northern businesses win customers and contracts, attracting more Indian visitors and forging new partnerships between universities, businesses and institutions.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
“There’s never been a better time to go out to India representing the North. Together we can strike new deals and bring home the quality jobs our communities deserve.
“We already have strong connections in India and they will only get stronger as the University of York recently welcomed their first students at its new Mumbai campus. We’re ready to showcase what our county does best, from the creative industries that inspire, leading-edge research in the bioeconomy, and food and farming innovations that feed us.”
Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:
“The North is going to India with ambition, confidence and a simple message: we want to seize every opportunity this new trade deal creates.
“That's why we're not waiting for the benefits to come to us. We're taking the North’s leading businesses, universities, sports clubs and visitor destinations to India to win investment, open doors for our businesses, bring more visitors to the North and build relationships that can last for generations.
“From clean energy and advanced manufacturing to life sciences, technology and our creative industries, the North has world-class strengths and a compelling offer to India.
“When the North comes together, we are mighty - and we’re excited to showcase the best of our regions on the global stage, to help bring jobs, prosperity and opportunity back home.”
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
“From agreeing the India trade deal with Minister Goyal in Hyde Park last year to seeing it come into force this summer, the coalition of Northern mayors and businesses is an exciting initiative in the next stage our partnership which is packed with economic opportunities from our most significant deal to date.
“From Sunderland to Skye this is what will drive economic growth across the country, where government lays the groundwork for businesses and organisations to work together with international partners to create jobs and opportunities for now and for the future.”
UK Government analysis estimates the new trade agreement could boost the economies of the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and North East by £450 million every year in the long run – £210m in the North West, £170m in Yorkshire and the Humber and £70m in the North East.
The combined delegations bring together major employers and investors, Northern SMEs and entrepreneurs, universities, visitor destinations, cultural and sporting organisations – presenting a single Northern proposition to Indian government, investors and businesses.
A North-wide programme to turn opportunity into growth
The mission will combine major collective North of England events with targeted programmes across India, focused on converting the new trading relationship into tangible opportunities.
Planned activity includes:
- Winning investment for the North – Northern mayors will pitch the region's investment opportunities directly to Indian investors and businesses, alongside targeted company meetings and engagement with senior Indian political and business leaders.
- A flagship North of England trade and investment event in Delhi – bringing together Northern and Indian businesses for networking, investment pitches and sector roundtables covering advanced manufacturing, life sciences, clean energy and technology, creative industries, and digital and technology.
- High-level government engagement – Northern mayors, joined by the Business Secretary, are expected to meet Indian ministers, the British High Commissioner, dignitaries and business leaders to explore new opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration.
- Opening doors for Northern businesses – connecting companies from across the North with potential Indian customers, investors and commercial partners, helping firms take advantage of improved market access created by the FTA.
- Taking the North's visitor offer to India – VisitBritain, Northern destinations and tourism businesses will showcase the North directly to Indian travel buyers, helping attract more international visitors and encourage people to discover more of England beyond London.
- Building university and research partnerships – Northern universities will participate in British Council and Study UK activity and direct engagement with Indian institutions, developing opportunities for research, innovation, student exchange and collaboration.
- Using sport and culture to build relationships – sporting and cultural organisations will form part of the Northern coalition, using the huge shared appeal of areas including football and cricket to deepen connections between India and the North.
- Targeted programmes across India – individual Northern delegations will undertake activity in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other locations, pursuing investment opportunities and partnerships linked directly to their regional economic strengths.
The mission is designed to build a long-term relationship rather than a one-off visit, with a programme of business, university, investment, tourism, cultural and sporting partnerships being developed across the North.
It forms part of The Great North's work to build a stronger collective international proposition for Northern England and secure more investment, trade and visitors for communities across the region.