Reynolds to take industry chiefs on crucial India trade mission

The business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, will fly to India next week accompanied by scores of business leaders and more than half a dozen regional mayors in a bid to inject fresh impetus into Britain's trade relationship with the world's most populous country.

Sky News has learnt that bosses from companies including Arup, Barclays, EY and Oxford Nanopore are among those expected to join Mr Reynolds on a four-day trip to New Delhi and Mumbai.

Seven northern mayors are also understood to be joining the business secretary as he seeks to drum up new trade with India.

Money latest: How cost of living crisis has left us worse off

Whitehall sources said a number of private sector deals and partnerships would be announced during the trip.

It comes three months after the UK's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India came into effect during a period of turmoil for global trade caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs blitz.

The FTA was designed to remove barriers by ensuring that 99% of Indian goods entering the UK and 90% of UK goods entering India would either be duty-free or reduced in tariffs.

The government said the deal was expected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5bn, with UK GDP expected to rise by £4.8bn annually "in the long run".

Mr Reynolds had played a key role in drawing up the details of the bilateral deal between the two countries during his first stint as business secretary.

One observer said the India relationship, and those with other major trading partners, would acquire greater importance if Britain's ties with the UAE came under strain as a result of potential Premier League sanctions against Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City, which has been found guilty of 115 financial misconduct charges.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade did not respond to a number of enquiries seeking comment on Mr Reynolds' trip, while none of the companies contacted by Sky News would comment.

(c) Sky News 2026: Reynolds to take industry chiefs on crucial India trade mission