India North England Opportunity Summit: Seizing the UK India Trade Deal

The UK India trade deal represents one of the most significant shifts in bilateral commerce in over a decade, and businesses across the North are only beginning to understand the scale of what is now possible.

Taking place on 20th March at Emirates Old Trafford, the summit arrives at a genuinely pivotal moment for UK India trade relations. The India UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, signed last July, is now set to come into force and businesses across the North are being urged to act quickly and seize what could be a generational opportunity.

A Trade Deal That Changes Everything

India is already one of the UK's most significant trading partners. Bilateral trade between the two nations topped £41 billion in 2024, a figure that underlines just how deep the commercial ties already run. The new trade agreement is designed to push that number even further, with projections suggesting it could boost bilateral trade by as much as £25.5 billion every year.

The headline numbers are compelling. Tariffs on 99 per cent of Indian goods entering the UK are eliminated immediately. Tariffs on 64 per cent of UK goods entering India are removed from day one, rising to 85 per cent over time. For North of England exporters, manufacturers, and service businesses, this is a direct and tangible opportunity to access one of the world's fastest growing economies with far fewer barriers than ever before.

The North Is Already Capitalising

It is easy to talk about trade deals in the abstract. What makes this summit different is the evidence of real momentum on the ground.

A year ago, the Consulate General of India opened in Manchester, marking a significant shift in how the India UK trade corridor is being managed and developed at a regional level. In the twelve months since, the CGI has been quietly but consistently building the infrastructure that makes international trade actually work: connecting Indian firms looking to invest in the North, supporting Northern businesses exploring the Indian market, and helping to drive improved air connectivity between Manchester and India.

That last point matters more than it might seem. The launch of direct flights from Manchester Airport to Delhi, followed by new weekly services to Mumbai, has transformed the practical reality of doing business between the two regions. Less time in transit means more time building relationships, closing deals, and growing partnerships.

Voices That Will Shape the Conversation

The India North England Opportunity Summit is not a talking shop. The speaker lineup reflects the scale of ambition behind the event. Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Jonathan Reynolds and Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig are confirmed, alongside Angela Rayner MP and a range of investors and business leaders who are actively shaping the UK India trade agenda.

Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, has made clear what the moment calls for. With the trade agreement coming into force, she has called on businesses across the North to ensure they are ready to seize the opportunities ahead. Her message is direct: the framework is in place, the connections are being made, and the businesses that move now will be the ones that benefit most.

What This Means for ISS Airview and the Wider North East

At ISS Airview, we have been watching this momentum build with a great deal of interest, and a great deal of recognition.

The India UK trade corridor is not new to us. We hosted the UK India Summit 2025 at our hub at Newcastle International Airport, where leaders from across business, government, and diplomacy gathered to explore exactly these themes. That event reinforced something we have believed for a long time: the North of England has a genuine and distinctive role to play in the UK India partnership, and it is not one that should be left to London to lead.

The ISS Airview model, built around airport anchored international trade and investment hubs, is designed precisely for moments like this one. Our hub at Newcastle International Airport and our growing presence at Teesside Airport give Northern businesses a practical soft landing infrastructure, not just for India but for the corridors opening up between the UK and the Gulf, South Asia, and beyond.

As ISS Airview continues its expansion into Riyadh and Bangalore, our ability to connect North East businesses directly into the India market, with in country support, investor introductions, and structured market entry pathways, is only growing.

The Opportunity Is Real. The Time Is Now.

For any North of England business thinking about international expansion, India has to be on the list. The trade deal removes the tariff barriers. The Consulate General in Manchester removes the relationship barriers. Events like the India North England Opportunity Summit remove the knowledge barriers.

What is left is execution.

ISS Airview exists to help ambitious businesses move from intent to action, whether that means attending trade missions, accessing our global hub network, connecting with investors, or building the market entry strategy that turns opportunity into revenue.

The North is open for business with India. The question is whether your business is ready to open that door.

Interested in exploring how ISS Airview can support your expansion into India or other high growth international markets? Find out more about our trade missions, soft landing programmes, and investment access pathways.

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