It has been a defining month for Greater Manchester’s relationship with India, one that has seen years of relationship-building translate into real economic impact. With a new direct flight and the signing of the Free Trade Agreement, the momentum we’ve built is delivering transformative results for our city-region.
The launch of IndiGo’s direct Manchester-Mumbai service will open the door for further connectivity and investment opportunities from India. The timing couldn’t have been better, as we hosted a fantastic “Celebrating Greater Manchester-India Connections” event alongside the Manchester India Partnership at Emirates Old Trafford – a special thanks to all those who attended and for the involvement of our partners.
Meanwhile, international momentum continues in our advanced manufacturing sector, with Astemo’s £100 million investment in their Horwich factory creating 220 high-skilled jobs at the forefront of the EV revolution, following our productive trade mission to Japan.
This has been joined by significant investments across our key sectors, including pladis’ £21 million commitment to their Stockport McVitie’s factory, digital bank Zopa opening their new Manchester hub and Mark43 establishing their UK operations base in the city centre.
This all ties in with the aim of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Strategy 2025-2035, launched last month, which is working towards ensuring that every person and every place in Greater Manchester feels the benefits of economic growth.
Joe Manning, Managing Director, MIDAS, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency
The biggest news from Manchester this month…
- Astemo set to invest £100m in Bolton
- Parent company of McVitie’s invests £21m in Stockport
- Zopa Bank expands to Manchester with new regional office
Manchester-India relations reach new heights
Greater Manchester’s relationship with India has taken a major step forward with significant developments opening new opportunities for growth.
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement creates access to £25.5 billion in bilateral trade opportunities, coinciding perfectly with the launch of IndiGo’s direct Manchester-Mumbai flights. Research shows this new route will boost regional exports by £32.9 million annually and create 250 jobs.
Greater Manchester launches ten-year strategy
Greater Manchester Combined Authority has launched its strategy for the next decade, with a clear vision: “a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life.”
The strategy combines a Growth Plan for economic expansion with a People Plan, ensuring prosperity reaches every resident across all ten boroughs.
Greater Manchester leads UK productivity growth…
Greater Manchester achieved the strongest productivity growth of any UK region over the past two decades, with a 31% increase between 2004 and 2023.
The Northern Powerhouse Partnership analysis shows this outperformed every other combined authority, representing real progress in closing the gap with London and the South East.
MediaCity is undergoing a major expansion to double its size, adding 3,000 homes, 800,000 sq ft of commercial space, and enhanced public realm features.
The development aims to create a “world-class destination” with a focus on sustainability, connectivity, and a vibrant mixed-use community.
Interested in visiting MediaCity? Don’t miss the immersive National Portrait Gallery Unframed experience, available until 31st August.
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