The North unites for India trade mission

A landmark trade mission will see senior leaders from across the North of England travel to India together for the first time, aiming to boost trade, investment and international collaboration.

The delegation, taking place from 12 to 16 October under The Great North banner, will bring together civic leaders, businesses, universities and regional partners from Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, York and North Yorkshire, the North East, and Cheshire and Warrington.

Announced as the UK-India Free Trade Agreement comes into force, the visit is being described as the UK’s first joint mayoral-led trade mission to India and the first major regional response to the deal.

The agreement is forecast to increase annual UK-India trade by £25.5 billion by 2040.

Delivered in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the mission will focus on attracting Indian investment into the North while helping Northern businesses explore opportunities in one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

The programme will include business events, sector-focused meetings and cultural activities showcasing the North’s strengths across advanced manufacturing, life sciences, digital technology, clean energy, financial and professional services, and the creative industries.

Tourism will also feature prominently, with destinations from across the North working alongside VisitBritain to strengthen links with India's rapidly expanding outbound travel market.

Kim McGuinness, North East mayor and chair of The Great North, said: “The Great North was created to do something the North of England has rarely had the opportunity to do before: come together with a single voice and tell our story to the world. 

“This mission to India is a powerful example of that vision in action. 

“It is the North taking control of its own destiny, coming together to build relationships, attract investment and create opportunities that will benefit our people, businesses and communities for generations to come.

“What makes this partnership especially meaningful is that the connections between the North and India are about far more than economics. 

“They can be seen in the communities that enrich our towns and cities, in the students and entrepreneurs who move between our countries, in our shared love of cricket, and increasingly in the creative, digital and screen sectors where Northern and Indian talent are finding new ways to work together.

“By bringing Northern leaders, businesses and institutions together in India, this mission will help unlock new investment and back SMEs to export and grow. 

“It will help create good jobs, drive economic growth and ensure that the benefits of international trade and investment are felt in towns and cities right across the North.

“Together, we have an opportunity to write the next chapter of that story and ensure the North is recognised around the world as a place that is confident, outward-looking and ready to lead.”

David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, added: “The North is stronger when we work together, and we’re ready to take the commitment we made and put it into action with a joint trade mission to the world’s fastest growing economy. 

“We will use this visit to India to showcase the combined strength of the Great North and how York and North Yorkshire can bring our world-class research and education, our thriving manufacturing sector and our hard-working farmers to the table. 

“We are already building the connections in our region with the University of York opening a new campus in Mumbai next year, but we are ready to do more. 

“By working together with Mayors across the Great North, we ensure that we all benefit from the UK’s evolving deal with India.”

Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, added: “Our ties with India run deep, stretching across our universities, businesses, communities and cricket clubs. 

“It’s a friendship that means a great deal to our region, and it’s one we're proud to keep building.

“Devolution has handed the North of England a once-in-a-generation chance to be stronger than the sum of its parts. 

“By standing together, we can show the world just how Great the North is, championing our region abroad to put more money in people's pockets back home.

“I've seen first-hand what our trade missions can deliver – multimillion-pound investments in key sectors, and thousands of good jobs for local people. 

“This October, we’ll be banging the drum for the North and building a stronger, better off West Yorkshire for the long-term.”

The mission comes as UK-India trade reached £47.9 billion in 2025, a ten per cent increase on the previous year.

India is also an increasingly important visitor market for the UK, with more than 600,000 annual visits expected to grow to one million by 2030.

Representing a combined economy worth more than £340 billion, The Great North partnership hopes the mission will strengthen long-term economic, academic and cultural ties between the two regions.

The initiative also builds on the inaugural India North England Opportunity Summit, held in Manchester earlier this year, which brought together more than 300 delegates to explore future trade and investment opportunities between India and the North.

Mrs Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, added: “We are delighted to welcome the Great North Mayoral Delegation to India this October. 

“The visit reflects the growing interest on both sides in building a stronger relationship between India and the North of England.

“The opening of the Consulate General of India in Manchester was itself a clear indication of India’s commitment to engaging more closely with the region. 

“Over the past year, we have worked steadily with local authorities, businesses, universities and other partners across the North. 

“The India–North England Opportunity Summit was an important step in bringing these relationships together and identifying practical areas for cooperation.

“The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement now gives this engagement fresh momentum. 

“There is considerable scope for collaboration between the North of England and Indian states and cities in areas such as advanced manufacturing, technology, textiles, education, clean energy, sport and culture. 

“The strong Indian diaspora in the region adds further depth to this partnership.

“We hope the delegation’s visit will help turn this potential into concrete projects, investment and long-term institutional links. 

“The Consulate General of India in Manchester will extend its full support to the delegation and will continue to work closely with partners in India and across the North of England.”

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