FLO Uttarakhand, under the leadership of Chairperson Ms. Tripti Behl, hosted an interactive trade meeting in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, which brought together Her Excellency Ms. Alba Smeriglio, the UK Deputy High Commissioner, along with leadership from FICCI FLO Uttarakhand and iSAT Network Engineers, to unpack the commercial advantages of the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Also, other esteemed speakers joined the session for the meaningful discussion: Mr. Rajendra Nagarkoti, Political Advisor to the Ambassador; Mr.Rajeev Balamurugan, Senior Inward Investment Advisor, Department of Business and Trade, British High Commission, New Delhi; and Mr Sudhanshoo Agarwal – CEO, iSAT Network Engineers Pvt Ltd, Haridwar.
Hosted at the iSAT corporate premises, the session focused heavily on creating actionable cross-trade pipelines for regional enterprises by exploring reduced tariff structures, simplified bilateral compliance frameworks, and enhanced market access. A central pillar of the dialogue was the economic empowerment of women-led MSMEs, with discussions mapping out direct pathways for local female entrepreneurs to connect with UK mentorship networks, secure international certifications, and integrate into global tech and manufacturing supply chains.
Objectives
- The primary objective of the event was to maximize cross-trade benefits for Uttarakhand-based companies by leveraging the upcoming opportunities within the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
- Strategic Collaboration: Establishing direct trade pipelines between businesses in Uttarakhand and UK market networks.
- Economic Empowerment: Creating global market access, international mentorship, and supply chain integration specifically for women-led MSMEs.
- Trade Integration: Educating local manufacturing and technology firms on tariff reductions, simplified customs, and international compliance standards.
- Industrial Synergy: Fostering long-term bilateral partnerships in high-tech engineering and regional industrial sectors.
Key Takeaways
- UK trade and mentorship networks could help scale women-led Indian ventures
- CETA’s reduced tariffs and simplified market-access provisions can encourage exports
- Investment and growth opportunities and assistance by the UK Government
Impact & Outcome
Around 7 FLO members participated in this meaningful dialogue with representatives from the British High Commission, iSAT Network Engineers, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The event focused on boosting cross-trade benefits for Uttarakhand-based companies by leveraging the opportunities within the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).