West Midlands delegation to visit India in bid to boost trade

Building on the ongoing negotiations for a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

A trade mission made up of West Midlands business and political leaders will visit India next month in a bid to boost trade and investment relations.

The visit, taking place between 6 to 12 November, aims to build on the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations taking place between the UK and India.

The delegation, led by West Midlands mayor Andy Street, will visit Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi to promote opportunities for bilateral trade and investment between India, the West Midlands, and the wider UK.

The trade mission seeks to cement existing economic ties between India 's sub-regions and the West Midlands. Senior representatives will explore potential partnerships in areas including emerging digital technologies, low carbon mobility and data-driven healthcare, with the common objective of creating more prosperous communities in both the UK and in India.

The West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) and partners including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), have organised a series of meetings and events which will bring together senior figures from leading Indian businesses.

These include multinational manufacturer Tata Group, motorcycle manufacturer TVS, automotive manufacturing group Mahindra & Mahindra, low carbon transport manufacturer Switch Mobility, business service provider Firstsource and Air India. The UK delegation will visit a number of key industry hubs, including Hyderabad-based T-Hub and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

Andy Street said: “As the UK seeks to deepen its relationship with India via a new Free Trade Agreement, we look forward to dovetailing with this national push by going out to India to 'bang the drum ' for the West Midlands.

“It will be a fantastic opportunity to engage with the Indian business community to showcase just why the West Midlands is the ideal investment destination for their high growth companies.

Alan Gemmell, His Majesty's trade commissioner for South Asia, said: “Trade between the UK and India is already worth over £24bn, which supports nearly half a million jobs in each other 's economies - many of those in the West Midlands.

“I 'm delighted that Mayor Andy Street is visiting India to deepen links with top Indian investors and to find more opportunities for great firms from the West Midlands to export to India, creating jobs and growth in both countries. ”

Pictured: Andy Street meeting Deepak Mukhi, head of Maharashtra State Council, FICCI, in 2017