Mumbai, October 29, 2026: From luxury automobiles and aerospace engineering to ports and industrial logistics, British manufacturing expertise took centre stage at the recently held UK-India CETA Marketplace in Mumbai, offering a glimpse of how the bilateral trade agreement is reshaping industrial engagement between the two economies. The advanced manufacturing showcase featured some of Britain’s most recognisable automotive names, alongside companies representing the engineering, infrastructure and supply-chain capabilities that support international commerce.
Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner said, “The UK–India trade deal has opened an exciting new chapter in our economic partnership. The CETA Marketplace is about bringing that opportunity to life, connecting businesses directly with the products, expertise and partnerships that can drive growth. Our focus now is on turning this landmark agreement into tangible commercial outcomes for businesses in both countries.”
The presence of Aston Martin, Bentley, JLR, Rolls-Royce, Unipart Services India and Peel Ports at the wider Marketplace illustrated the breadth of that opportunity. Their presence highlighted the importance of India as a market for premium automobiles and the potential impact of the new trade agreement on British vehicle manufacturers. Under CETA, tariffs on qualifying British automobiles are scheduled to fall significantly, subject to agreed quotas and the provisions of the agreement. The changes improve market access for British manufacturers while creating opportunities for dealerships, automotive service providers, distributors and related businesses in India and Indian consumers.
The Marketplace event provided an opportunity for Indian businesses to engage with British companies across automotive manufacturing, aerospace, engineering, logistics and infrastructure. The UK offers established expertise in high-value engineering, specialised manufacturing and industrial services. India brings a large domestic market, manufacturing capacity, engineering talent and an expanding industrial base. For both countries, the opportunity lies in combining these strengths to build competitive and resilient supply chains.
The next phase of the UK-India trade partnership will be defined by greater investment commitments, robust supplier development, deeper technology partnerships and sustainable industrial growth.
Photo caption – Secretaries of State Jonathan Reynolds, Angela Eagle and Douglas Alexander join the Northern Mayors on a visit to India to strengthen the UK–India trading relationship and promote opportunities for businesses, investment and economic growth
Engineering, aviation, construction and industrial infrastructure accounted for some of the biggest commercial announcements associated with the largest ever UK regional trade mission to India.
Menzies Aviation expects to generate more than INR 7625 crores in revenue through its 15-year ground-handling licence, supported by INR 76.2 crores in investment and the creation of more than 1,000 jobs in India.
Global engineering consultancy Buro Happold outlined plans to generate INR 1143 crores from Indian projects, invest INR 38 crores and create more than 500 jobs over three years. Gleeds is delivering construction consultancy contracts worth INR 343 crore, while Arup secured a INR 17 crores Mumbai Metro design review contract.
Industrial and environmental infrastructure opportunities were also highlighted through ERG Neev’s wastewater odour-control project worth INR 12.7 Crores (£1m) and supplying a 120,000 m³/hr system to L&T, Organicco’s waste-to-value export opportunities and DMMP Limited’s planned INR 44 crores investment in manufacturing capacity.
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) also announced continued investment in India’s procurement and professional capability ecosystem with an investment of approximately INR 5 Crore (£0.4 million), reinforcing opportunities for collaboration across industrial supply chains.
For the UK and India, the next chapter of manufacturing cooperation will be measured not simply by the products crossing borders, but by the industrial partnerships built around them.
