‘No better time to build on Indo-UK trade ties’

By Ranil Jayawardena

Parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for International Trade

INDIA is one of the United Kingdom’s most im­portant friends and allies. The country’s econo­my is now nine times larger than it was in 1990, making it the fifth largest in the world.

India is truly an economic powerhouse that will help define the 21st century, and I was glad to see the strength of the Anglo-Indian relationship on full display as part of the recent India Global Week.

Of course, Britain and India already have a strong bond. Both our countries benefit from unique peo­ple to people links. Here in Britain, we have an In­dian diaspora of over 1.5 million people, creating prosperity here and in India.

India is also already a key trading partner for the United Kingdom, and the work we’ve done togeth­er during the coronavirus pandemic has demon­strated the real depth and strength of our trade and investment relationship.

We have worked closely to keep vital supply chains open and flowing including, for example, for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Over the past few months, the British and Indian govern­ments worked together to deliver 11 million face masks here – and much more besides. I know I speak for so many across Britain when I say we are deeply grateful for the support and friendship that India has shown us during this challenging time.

Elsewhere, we already have strong economic ties in areas like technology, business services and pharmaceuticals. Overall trade between our coun­tries hit £24 billion in 2019, up by almost 10 per cent in just one year, and India has also recently risen up the ranks to become the second largest investor in the British economy last year.

Even before coronavirus, Britain was India’s sec­ond-largest research partner. But there is the po­tential to do so much more.

Just last week, I spoke again to India’s minister for commerce, Hardeep Singh Puri, as we both strive to deliver upon our shared ambition to be forces for good in the world through doubling down on bilateral trade.

In realising the benefits of leaving the EU, we want to work with like-minded partners to champion free trade and fight protectionism. We want to go fur­ther in building our relationship with India, knock­ing down existing barriers to trade in both coun­tries, creating jobs and opportunities for growth by drawing on the strengths of our economies.

Last week, we held the 14th meeting of the Unit­ed Kingdom-India Joint Economic and Trade Com­mittee (JETCO) to discuss ways to expand and deepen our trading relationship, although we were having to do it virtually. While we would have hoped to meet in-person, I am glad we’re able to make further progress, even during a pandemic.

As part of these discussions, we agreed to estab­lish an enhanced trade partnership as a first step as part of a wider roadmap for a deeper trade relation­ship. Subject to progress, this could lead to a future free trade agreement, removing some of the non-tariff barriers that serve as obstacles to our exports reaching their full potential.

So as well as deepening our overall trade part­nership, I want to help our British producers secure better access to the Indian market here and now. According to industry estimates, our work so far unlocking trade barriers will deliver a £250 million annual boost to British businesses, and is benefit­ing all parts of both Britain and India. Whether that’s helping our Welsh farmers export their high-quality lamb to India, or helping Indian farmers to increase crop yields while supporting a cleaner, greener and sustainable environment by enabling British exports of polyhalite – a multi-nutrient ferti­liser mined in Yorkshire – much has been done.

But there is more still to do; for example, being able to export apples and pears to India for the first time, or working together to support the music in­dustries of both countries. We want to make it easi­er for expert Indian and British legal professionals to work in each other’s countries too, and secure even greater investment in each other’s economies.

And, as we look ahead to hosting the UN climate change conference (COP26) in November next year, there is also an opportunity to strengthen our collaboration as a global force for good on climate and green recovery.

There is no better moment than now to celebrate our relationship and explore the real potential of what we can achieve together in the future. In times of economic difficulty, it is more important than ever for countries to remain open to trade. I’m proud of the progress we have made so far with In­dia, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next for our trading relationship.

While it is great to stay in touch virtually, I hope I will be able to make the journey to meet my Indian counterparts in-person – deepening our ties and more fully introducing them to all the UK has to offer – as soon as we have defeated our common enemy, the coronavirus, together.

Ranil Jayawardena is the Conservative MP for North East Hampshire.