Gandhinagar: In a significant stride towards enhancing India’s global trade footprint, an open forum on the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was held in Ahmedabad. The session was chaired by Gujarat Industries Minister Mr. Balvantsinh Rajput and jointly organized by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Industries and Mines Department, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Strategic Dialogue on CETA Sparks Optimism Across Industries
The forum served as a strategic platform to delve into the opportunities emerging from the India–UK CETA, a landmark free trade agreement that is expected to significantly bolster trade relations between the two nations. Discussions revolved around how the agreement will ease market access and reduce trade barriers, especially for Indian exporters.
Balvantsinh Rajput: “CETA Will Accelerate India’s Economic Rise”
Addressing the gathering, Minister Mr. Balvantsinh Rajput declared that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, is already the fourth-largest global power and poised to become the third-largest economy. He emphasized that CETA would fast-track India’s journey by enhancing export competitiveness and opening up developed markets such as the UK to Gujarat-based startups, manufacturers, and exporters.
He also highlighted key steps taken by the state government under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, including MOUs for food parks and significant efforts to reduce logistics costs, positioning Gujarat to fully leverage this trade pact.
GCCI President: CETA Offers Unprecedented Duty-Free Access
In his welcome address, GCCI President Mr. Sandeep Engineer hailed the CETA as a “historic milestone” and a testament to India’s commitment to deeper economic integration with the UK. He noted that the agreement provides 99% duty-free access for Indian exports to the UK and unlocks fresh potential for sectors like textiles, leather, marine products, footwear, sporting goods, toys, and gems & jewellery.
State Officials Emphasize Strategic Importance of CETA
Ms. Mamta Verma, Principal Secretary of the State Industries Department, called the agreement a symbol of national pride and a concrete step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. She stressed that the elimination of export duties would lead to a significant boost in India’s outbound trade.
Mr. Rahul Singh, Joint Director of DGFT, shared data-backed insights on India’s rising export trajectory to the UK. He said that by removing duties on 99% of tariff lines, CETA covers nearly the entire trade value between the two nations.
Gujarat Poised to Benefit from Duty-Free Access
Industries Commissioner Mr. P. Swaroop showcased Gujarat’s leadership in exports of petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, electrical machinery, ceramics, and more. He also spotlighted emerging sectors such as ready-made garments, home textiles, carpets, and handicrafts, which stand to gain massively under the CETA framework.
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Widespread Industry Participation Underscores Strategic Importance
The forum drew attendance from key stakeholders, including GCCI Senior Vice President Mr. Rajesh Gandhi, Vice President Mr. Apurva Shah, GCCI International Trade Committee Chairman Mr. Anil Jain, and INDEXTb MD Mr. K.C. Sampat, along with numerous senior officials and industrialists from across Gujarat.
The event concluded with a strong sense of optimism and a unified vision toward maximizing the benefits of the India–UK trade agreement for Gujarat and the nation at large.
