As the India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into effect today, the first consignments from different parts of the country have begun their journey to the UK.
In Hyderabad, the inaugural consignment of export shipments from Telangana to the UK was flagged off this morning. The launch ceremony was attended by several senior officials, including Telangana’s Special Secretary for Industries Krishna Aditya, DGFT Additional Director Dr. Sampath Kumar, VSEZ Deputy Commissioner Bhavani Sri and Regional Head R.P. Naidu.
The trade pact is expected to significantly enhance market access for Indian exports through the elimination of tariffs, simplified customs procedures, and improved regulatory cooperation. Officials anticipate that these tariff concessions will create robust new opportunities for exporters across multiple sectors while substantially boosting the competitiveness of Telangana’s products in the UK market.
Meanwhile, ready-made garments and woollen and worsted yarn were flagged off from Punjab’s Amritsar and Ludhiana. At Ludhiana, the ceremony was jointly organised at Sahnewal by DGFT (RA) Ludhiana, the Customs Commissionerate, Ludhiana, and FIEO. In Amritsar, the consignment of ready-made garments was flagged off from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport through Air India’s direct flight to Birmingham.
The agreement secures zero-duty market access for nearly 99% of India’s exports to the UK, expands opportunities across 137 services sub-sectors, and boosts key sectors, including textiles, leather, engineering, food processing, pharmaceuticals and MSMEs.
In Maharashtra, export shipments were flagged off from Nhava Sheva and SEEPZ-SEZ in Mumbai. At Nhava Sheva, India’s largest containerised cargo port, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Regional Authority Mumbai, flagged off consignments from seven exporters representing sectors including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, food products, enzymes, and spices, marking the commencement of exports under the agreement. Senior Customs and DGFT officials attended the ceremony.
At SEEPZ-SEZ, India’s first Special Economic Zone and a leading export hub for gems and jewellery, Development Commissioner Dnyaneshwar B. Patil led a flag-off ceremony for export shipments to the United Kingdom. A presentation on the agreement highlighted that the gems and jewellery sector contributes over ₹2,109 crore to SEEPZ’s exports to the UK. With the UK’s 4% import duty abolished from today, the sector is expected to receive an annual tariff benefit of about ₹84 crore, besides improved competitiveness, higher investments, employment generation, and a boost to exports.
Later today, the Maharashtra Government, in association with the British Deputy High Commission, will organise a special programme in Mumbai to mark the implementation of the agreement. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will attend as the chief guest, while Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar are also expected to be present.
