North of England delegation heads to India to seize £450m-a-year trade opportunity
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Northern Mayors will lead a coalition from across the North of
England to India next week to seize economic opportunities unlocked
by the new UKIndia 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...Request free trial
Northern Mayors will lead a coalition from across the North of England to India next week to seize economic opportunities unlocked by the new UKIndia 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. 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:
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. Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig said: India is already a hugely important partner to Greater Manchester and I'm excited to strengthen those links even further. My job as Mayor is to back our city region. Greater Manchester is an important voice on the global stage and in India I'll be joined by a 60-strong delegation of businesses, universities, sports clubs and cultural institutions from across our city region to help tell that story. Over the past five years, investment from Indian companies has created more than 500 new jobs in Greater Manchester. We've seen fragrance manufacturer Keva invest £8 million in a new research centre, and just last month RPSG Group and Lancashire Cricket announced plans to build a new high-performance cricket centre next to Old Trafford Cricket Ground. We've built strong foundations and the Free Trade Agreement gives us a further boost. The prize is an additional £210 million for the North West's economy, and that means more trade and investment, more international visitors, and closer links in culture and sport, creating new jobs for our residents and opportunities for our businesses. Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, said: India is a hugely important market for the North, and there's a massive amount we can gain by building stronger relationships with businesses, universities and institutions there. In the Liverpool City Region we already ave strong links with India, but this is about taking that relationship to the next level. Coming together as the Great North, the Liverpool City Region can make sure the world sees the scale and strength of what we've got to offer and that the opportunities that come from it are felt right across our communities. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: Here in West Yorkshire we have a proud track record of turning conversations into results, whether it's hundreds of jobs in Leeds off the back of a meeting in Bangalore, or millions of pounds of investment after a visit to Mumbai. While this landmark trade mission will build on that success, it will also empower us to do so much more, by bringing the whole of the North of England together for the very first time to champion our communities and bat for our businesses abroad. Together, we'll be speaking with one voice to send one clear message. If you're looking for the best place in the world to invest and grow with outstanding universities, exceptional talent and extraordinary businesses then the North of England is where opportunity lives. 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. Mayor Luke Campbell MBE, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, said: When the North goes out into the world together, we carry more weight. The Great North gives us a bigger platform, and I want Hull and East Yorkshire right at the heart of it. We have a lot to offer. We are strong in energy, manufacturing, ports and logistics, food and innovation, and we have businesses here with the ambition to grow. I want investors and businesses in India to know who we are, what we make and what we can do. India is a major market, and the new trade agreement gives us a real chance to open doors. I am going with a clear purpose: to make the case for our region, build the right relationships and bring home investment, new customers, contracts and opportunities that can turn into jobs and growth. Going together as the North gives us scale, but I will be there making sure Hull and East Yorkshire is seen and heard. We have confidence in our region and something real to offer. Our mission - bring opportunities home. South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard said: One of the best things about being Mayor is that I get to tell people about this brilliant place we call home. Not just because I'm proud of South Yorkshire, but because I'm determined to make sure more people around the world know all about the things we do here so well; so that companies, investors and entrepreneurs know to choose South Yorkshire when making decisions about where to put their investment and their jobs. I'm leading our South Yorkshire delegation to India, where we'll be telling everyone we can about our world-leading advanced manufacturing businesses, our brilliant universities, and our thriving tech sector - and everything else that makes us such a special place to invest. And I'll be doing it all alongside my fellow Yorkshire mayors, promoting God's own country in one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair, Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, said: We have an ambitious programme for growth in Cheshire and Warrington and joining The Great North's mission to India will open new doors for trade and investment in our region. With support from representatives from Bentley, Essar, the University of Chester and some of our small businesses, we will show that Cheshire and Warrington is ready for investment in innovation and sustainable economic growth. Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said: "We are proud to connect the North to the world and especially to fast-growing economies like India that have so many cultural and economic synergies with our region. More than 500,000 people a year travel between the North and India through Manchester Airport, reflecting the close ties that already exist between the two places. "This mission demonstrates a shared desire across the North to forge even stronger connections with India, through trade, tourism, investment, culture, sport and academic collaboration. "As the UK's global gateway in the North, we look forward to working with all our partners to see this important relationship go from strength to strength, helping the region compete on the global stage." Dr Natasha Boulding, CEO and Co-founder, Low Carbon Materials, an SME based in County Durham, said: "Low Carbon Materials is joining the Great North mission because India is building at a scale the world has never seen, and the materials it chooses now will shape global emissions for decades. Concrete is the world's most widely used building material. Our product, ACLA, is a carbon-negative additive that cuts its carbon footprint while improving performance. India could also play a part in our supply chain. We are exploring partnerships to source biochar made from Indian crop waste that would otherwise be burned, turning it into a low-carbon material for construction. Links like these, built through shared university and business networks, are exactly what we want to grow. For us, a successful mission means new partners in India's construction sector, pilot projects with Indian concrete producers and a stronger supply chain between our two countries. Working together, UK and Indian businesses can move faster. The North brings world-class materials science and advanced manufacturing. India brings scale, ambition and a thriving startup scene. Dr. Kishore Jayaraman OBE, Group CEO, UK India Business Council, said: India is UK's one of the most important economic partners, and the UKIndia Free Trade agreement creates real momentum to deepen that relationship. UKIBC is proud to partner with The Great North to support this first-ever joint Northern delegation to India, helping connect Northern businesses, universities and civic leaders with opportunities across key growth sectors. There is enormous collective scale across the North, but also very different strengths and opportunities within each region. By bringing together a Northern economy worth over £340 billion, this mission will help turn ambition into practical outcomes. Our role is to bring UKIBC's knowledge, networks and presence in India alongside that ambition and help turn it into opportunities. Stuart Tait, Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC: India and the North of England have complementary strengths, from advanced manufacturing and life sciences to technology, clean energy and creative industries. The new UKIndia Free Trade Agreement creates an important platform for businesses to deepen these connections, expand into new markets and attract investment. HSBC is proud to support this mission, helping Northern businesses build the international relationships, manage the complexities of cross-border trade and turn the agreement's potential into tangible growth, jobs and opportunity for communities across the region. Strong collaboration between businesses, government, universities and financial institutions will be key to making this long-term partnership a success. ENDS Notes to editors About the mission The North of England India Mission is a joint mayoral-led trade and engagement mission to India taking place from 12 o 16 October 2026 under The Great North banner. It is designed to position the North of England as a major UK partner region for India, bringing together civic leaders, businesses, universities and cultural, sporting and visitor economy partners to strengthen relationships across trade, investment, innovation, education, culture and tourism. HSBC is proudly sponsoring this trade mission to India, helping strengthen UKIndia commercial links and supporting local businesses to grow internationally. The mission is being delivered in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and is the UK's first joint mayoral-led mission to India and the first major regional response to the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, which came into force on 15 July 2026. Read more about the FTA impact assessment here. Mayors and regions attending include: Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness; Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig; Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Roterham; Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracey Brabin; Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith; South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard; Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire Luke Campbell; Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Chair Cllr Louise Gittins. After collaborating on joint North of England events and engagements, regions will visit different parts of India with their delegations. The Great North programme: Delhi Sunday 11 October
17:3019:00 | Great North Welcome Reception Delhi Monday 12 October
10:0016:00 | VisitBritain North Event
12:3013:30 | Ministerial Lunch
12:3016:30 | Great NorthIndia Growth Forum
13:0017:00 | British Council: Study UK Activity
18:3020:30 | The King's Birthday Party Mumbai 1315 October
13:0015:30 | British Council: Study UK
13:30 | Premier League: Next Generation Coaching
15:0016:00 | Meeting with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra
18:0020:00 | CETA Marketplace Media queries The Great North can coordinate interview requests with Mayors and members of the delegation. Please contact Nikki Brown, Marketing Manchester, who will be based in India for the mission: nikki.brown@marketingmanchester.com Mayors will be available for interviews on Monday 12 October between 1500 - 1600 following The Great NorthIndia Growth Forum event. Media must register to request attendance by contacting Nikki Brown. About The Great North The Great North is the UK's first mayoral led collaboration, established by northern leaders to elevate the voice, visibility and economic impact of the North. It brings together Combined Authorities, local councils, business, universities and government to unlock the North's potential, on the North's terms. The Great North was established in May 2025, bringing together Mayors and regional leaders from across the North of England around a shared ambition: to speak with a stronger collective voice, unlock the North's economic potential and champion its interests nationally and internationally. Since then, we have brought Northern leaders together behind shared priorities for growth and devolution; worked with Government on the first Northern Growth Strategy; launched a collective Investment Prospectus and inaugural Great North Investment Summit; developed an ambition for a future Olympic and Paralympic Games in the North; and established new collaborations around trade, investment and the creative industries. Tourism collaboration The Great North, Visit Britain, regional destination partners and industry come together to shine a spotlight on the great tourism products across the North of England. The event will connect destinations and tourism businesses in the North of England directly with key Indian travel buyers. Northern destinations promoting their regions and products include:
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