Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has described today as a defining milestone in India-UK relations. In a social media post, Mr Goyal said that the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Agreement on Social Security have come into force, providing zero-duty market access for nearly 99 per cent of India’s exports and covering almost 100 per cent of the bilateral trade value.

The minister said the India-UK Free Trade Agreement will create unprecedented opportunities for India’s textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, marine products, chemicals, processed foods, MSMEs, farmers and manufacturers. He added that the agreement also opens new avenues for the country’s IT, professional, financial, education and business services sectors, while enhancing mobility for Indian talent.

Mr Goyal said the Agreement on Social Security further strengthens the partnership by exempting Indian professionals on temporary assignments in the UK from double social security contributions for up to five years, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of India’s workforce.

The minister added that India and the UK remain committed to building a resilient, innovation-driven partnership that will promote growth, investment and shared prosperity for generations to come.