North Yorkshire Mayor to Join Historic Joint Trade Mission to India

Civic and business leaders from York and North Yorkshire will join a historic trade mission to India this October to attract investment and support local businesses following the new UK-India Free Trade Agreement.

Senior leaders from York and North Yorkshire are set to travel to India this October as part of a historic joint trade mission.

The delegation will travel under The Great North banner to strengthen international ties concerning trade, investment, innovation, culture, and the visitor economy.

The announcement comes as the UK-India Free Trade Agreement officially comes into force today. The mission is the first major regional response to the agreement, which is projected to increase annual bilateral trade by £25.5 billion by 2040.

The mission will bring together civic and business leaders, academics, and civic partners from York and North Yorkshire, alongside representatives from other Northern regions.

Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith said:

"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, 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."

The mission is being delivered in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. According to the Department for Business and Trade, total trade between the UK and India reached £47.9 billion in 2025, which is an increase of ten percent on the previous year.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:

"We want the benefits of our ambitious trade deals to be felt in every part of the country.

It is fantastic to see Northern leaders immediately seizing the opportunities that our deal with India, coming into effect in July, will offer, and communities should be excited for the real investment, jobs and growth coming to their area."

Events are also planned with Indian travel trade partners to strengthen links within the visitor economy. Tourism industry partners and Visit Britain will attend to showcase destinations across the North to attract new visitors. India is viewed as an increasingly important visitor market for the UK, with more than 600,000 visits made each year. Visitor numbers are forecast to reach one million by 2030.

The Great North represents a combined economy worth over £340 billion, and is home to 16 million people and 1.1 million businesses.

Consul General of India in Manchester, Mrs Vishakha Yaduvanshi said:

"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."