The UK has secured a new trade partnership with India, which will help to secure investment that will create thousands of new jobs in the UK.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, recently concluded a visit to India, during which she met with representatives of the Indian Government to map a potential future free trade deal and deeper trading ties.

As part of her visit to the world’s largest democracy, the International Trade Secretary confirmed a major investment from Tata Consultancy Services that will bring 1,500 high-skilled jobs to sites all over the UK.

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology giant, Wockhardt, also confirmed additional investment at its site in Wrexham, as part of an extension of their COVID-19 vaccination contract.

The Government has also outlined a new Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goya, which will work as the basis for a future comprehensive free trade arrangement.

The Government has said that the ETP, which includes considerations on an Interim Agreement on preferential basis, is part of its plans to “deepen links with major economies of the present and future beyond Europe, creating more trade and investment in strategic industries like science, tech and services that will help the UK build back better, greener and stronger from Coronavirus”.

UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: “Deeper trading ties will create opportunities for UK businesses that were simply not there as part of the EU, and set the stage for a much closer partnership with one of the economic powerhouses of the present and future, ensuring more investors like Tata Consultancy Services bring jobs and growth to the UK.

“We will be collaborating much more closely in the industries of tomorrow like science, tech and green growth, so we can build back better and deliver an export-led, investment-led, jobs-led recovery from Coronavirus.”

The UK and India already have a strong trading relationship, which was worth £23 billion in 2019. India plays a particularly important role in the UK’s life sciences, tech and pharmaceutical sectors.

This latest deal is part of an ongoing campaign by the UK Government post-Brexit to build new links to key trading partners, which it hopes will help the nation’s economy in the years to come.

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