UK FTA to help India's exports reach $115 billion by 2030, create 7-10 lakh new jobs
New Delhi, July 25
The India-UK free trade agreement can help bilateral trade trajectory expand from $58 billion in 2025-26 to $115 billion by 2030, along with the possible creation of 7-10 lakh new employment opportunities, according to a new Assocham study.
The India-UK FTA, which is now in force since July 15, 2026, is expected to expand business horizons via increased market access and create new employment opportunities for the young population, said the study by Assocham Global Research and Strategy Centre.
With new opportunities and deeper market access in labour-intensive industries like textiles, leather, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, automotive, among others, employment generation and export promotion stand to gain, said the study.
It further stated that for India to realise this massive potential, sustained competitiveness is crucial.
"Indian businesses will need to meet product quality, certification requirements, Rules of Origin compliance, and international sustainability standards. Ease of doing business reforms and continued investments in infrastructure and supply chain will hold the key to meeting these criteria," said Nirmal K Minda, President, Assocham.
The engineering goods sector is expected to benefit from the agreement, thus providing an impetus for MSME growth and ultimately job creation.
Furthermore, simpler customs and digital trade provisions will simplify compliance, reduce turnaround time, and create a more agile trade environment, said Minda.
The India-UK CETA brings together two complementary economies.
While India offers a large market, young working population, strong MSME base, and strength in labour-intensive industries, the UK complements this by offering advanced technology and expertise in high-value services.
Assocham said that these complementarities are bound to support long-term economic engagement, trade growth, collaborative innovation, and supply chain resilience amidst the uncertain global economic environment.
As the global economic scenario becomes more complex to manoeuvre, the FTA serves as an important milestone for the India-UK economic relationship.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an Indian working in the UK, I can see the potential. But India needs to focus on product quality and compliance. We can't just export cheap stuff—we need value-added products. The engineering and pharma sectors have huge scope if we play our cards right. Hope the government walks the talk on ease of doing business.
Every time they announce job creation figures, I get skeptical. Remember the Make in India hype? How many jobs materialized? The devil is in the implementation—customs reforms, infrastructure, and skilling our workforce for these high-value roles. Until I see ground-level change, it's just another report. 😕
Textiles and leather—our traditional strengths—getting a boost is fantastic. But we must ensure fair wages and working conditions in these sectors. This FTA can't just be about export numbers; it should translate to better livelihoods for workers in Tirupur, Kanpur, and other clusters. Let's hope the oversight mechanisms work.
I'm cautiously optimistic. The complementary nature of our economies makes sense—India's young workforce + UK's tech/services expertise = win-win. But I worry about the Rules of Origin compliance. Many small exporters might get left behind if paperwork becomes a nightmare. Need simplified digital systems as promised. Good first step though.
$115 billion by 2030 sounds ambitious but achievable if we fix our logistics. Port delays, high logistics costs, and power shortages still hurt our competitiveness. The government should see this FTA as a wake-up call to fast-track infrastructure projects. Job creation is great, but only if our youth are skilled for these
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