Industry experts call for product standard upgrades and nationwide awareness programmes to help businesses maximise opportunities under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Industry representatives have called on Indian exporters to improve product quality and standards to take full advantage of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), scheduled to come into effect from July 15.

Experts also recommended that the government launch outreach initiatives across the country to educate domestic industries about the provisions and commercial opportunities arising from the bilateral trade agreement.

The UK Department for Business and Trade has already launched a nationwide free trade agreement roadshow across six cities to help British businesses prepare for the agreement's implementation.

According to industry experts, India should undertake a similar CETA-focused awareness campaign in manufacturing clusters nationwide to ensure businesses are prepared to tap potential export opportunities.

Co Partner Rudra Kumar Pandey said India should leverage the agreement to upgrade product standards and align them with UK regulatory requirements, enabling businesses to become reliable long-term supply chain partners rather than one-time suppliers.

Pandey said the early finalisation of the bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between India and the UK is also important to provide investors with confidence in the legal framework, describing it as a prerequisite for capital-intensive and long-term investments.

He added that the projected gains from the India-UK FTA extend beyond trade integration and offer opportunities to strengthen supply chains for the long term.

Dr. Nuzhat Dileep, Partner, Deloitte India, said the agreement offers investors a platform focused on implementing practical outcomes rather than intent alone.

She noted that the agreement is expected to create two-way capital flows across advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, components, fintech, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and high-value services.

Dr. Dileep also said India offers scale, manufacturing depth and an increasingly mature regulatory framework. She added that the UK provides a gateway into European and global markets, along with access to advanced technology and research and development ecosystems.

The report noted that tariff reductions under the agreement will benefit India's manufacturing competitiveness. UK duties of up to 12 per cent on textiles and clothing and up to 16 per cent on leather and footwear products are set to be eliminated.

Industry experts stated that India's leather and footwear exports to the UK were valued at approximately $494 million in 2024, while India's textile sector is currently the UK's 6.1 per cent largest market supplier, creating opportunities for further expansion following tariff elimination.

Deepak Pugalia, Chairperson of the India Export House, said the trade agreement could significantly increase exports from India, describing the agreement as a major development for the sector.

The UK is also identified as an important destination for Indian students pursuing higher education, professional training and work opportunities, as well as a significant source of foreign direct investment into India.