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President's Message

K. M. Subramanian

 

In the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the agreement was signed by Hon’ble Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri. Piyush Goyal and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan Reynolds.


This FTA marks a significant milestone in India’s engagement with major developed economies and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening economic integration. As the world’s fourth and sixth largest economies respectively, India and the UK’s bilateral engagement holds global economic significance. The signing of the India-UK CETA follows the successful conclusion of negotiations announced on 6th May 2025. CETA secures unprecedented duty-free access for 99% of India’s exports to the UK, covering nearly the entire trade basket. This is expected to open new opportunities for labour-intensive industries such as textiles. The bilateral trade between the two countries stands at nearly USD 56 billion, with a joint goal to double this figure by 2030.


“This CETA marks a milestone in the trade relations between two major economies, setting an ambitious and balanced framework. It unlocks tariff-free access on 99% of Indian exports to the UK, covering nearly 100% of trade value- including labour-intensive sectors advancing the ‘Make in India’ initiative and setting the stage for bilateral trade to double by 2030.


This FTA will serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth, benefiting farmers, artisans, workers, MSMEs, startups, and innovators while safeguarding India’s core interests and accelerating our journey towards becoming a global economic powerhouse.


Our Honorary Chairman Padmashri Dr. A. Sakthivel, Anna has extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi, and the Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry for the successful signing of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). He hailed the landmark agreement as a “historic achievement that will redefine India’s apparel export landscape. This FTA not only strengthens our bilateral ties but also empowers Indian exporters with fresh opportunities and global competitiveness. It will pave the way for large-scale employment especially surge the women employment, industry growth, and a brighter future for the Indian textile sector. We foresee India’s RMG exports to the UK more than doubling in the near future—from the current USD 1.45 billion to USD 3.25 billion. Of this, knitwear exports alone are expected to surge from USD 0.8 billion to nearly USD 2 billion, accounting for around 70% of total RMG exports to the UK.”


With improved Competitiveness Tiruppur exporters will now enjoy a stronger edge over competitors from Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China in the UK market resulting in a minimum jump of over 15%.