The mission, involving Business, Environment, and Scotland Secretaries, alongside northern Mayors and over 100 businesses, has resulted in fresh commercial wins, attracting investment and creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs across the UK. This builds on the momentum of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which came into force in July 2025.
The initiative, dubbed 'The Great North' mission, aims to promote regional strengths and attract investment from India, one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Deals worth nearly £12 billion have been struck since the FTA's inception, with total UK-India trade reaching £48 billion in the year to March 2026, a £3 billion increase year-on-year.
Key outcomes include tech firm Meta for Data Technologies investing £50 million to create 500 jobs in London and Manchester, establishing new AI and data research centres. Menzies Aviation secured a 15-year Ground Handling Licence expected to generate over £600 million in revenue, expanding its services at India’s largest domestic cargo facility in Bengaluru.
Premium UK kids wear brand Angel & Rocket plans to open 100 stores in India over five years, projecting £43 million in revenue. The mission also highlighted opportunities for food and drink businesses, with whisky tariffs halved and salmon now entering India tariff-free.
Oxford Nanopore is set to sign a memorandum of understanding to launch a Centre for Excellence in Hyderabad, fostering scientific collaboration. Cambridge-based Panakeia Technologies is expanding its AI breast cancer diagnostic technology into India, projected to generate over £27 million.
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, stated, "Our trade deal with India opened the door, and now regional businesses are walking through it with our northern Mayors leading the way in building partnerships to drive jobs, investment and growth back home."
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Angela Eagle, commented, "This government’s landmark deal with India opened the door to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets – and we are working to turn its commitments into outcomes for British farmers and food and drink companies."
Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander, added, "It’s great news that we have Scottish businesses joining this co-ordinated UK Government trade mission to India. Our free trade agreement was hard won and will now open up a big market for high-quality products like salmon and whisky."
Further deals include Buro Happold scaling up in India to generate £90 million, Gleeds delivering contracts worth £27 million, and Civo partnering with Redington for its AI-ready cloud platform. Kimia is launching pharmaceutical-grade alcohols, JBrown International offers UK property advisory services, and Asika is reducing administrative burden for hospitals in Hyderabad.
The University of Liverpool's Bengaluru Campus has officially opened, anticipating 10,000 students within a decade. The Business Secretary also met with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to launch closer regional economic cooperation.
