- First ever India-North England summit attended by more than 300 delegates in Manchester
- Major opportunities for Northern firms signalled as relationship between India and the UK bolstered by trade deal soon coming into force
Business leaders, investors and senior policymakers from across the UK and India gathered in Manchester for the inaugural India North England Opportunity Summit, with speakers highlighting the growing role of the North of England as a major gateway for trade and investment between the two countries.
More than 300 delegates attended the summit (on Friday 20th March 2026) at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford, including Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, High Commissioner of India to the UK Vikram K. Doraiswami, Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport and other senior business leaders from across the North.
The event took place one year after the opening of the Consulate General of India in Manchester, which has played a key role in strengthening economic, business and diplomatic ties between India and the North of England.
Speakers at the summit highlighted how improved connectivity, including direct flights from Manchester to Delhi and new services to Mumbai, combined with the forthcoming India-UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), is expected to significantly increase trade, investment and collaboration between businesses in India and the North of England.
The summit heard that the North of England is increasingly seen as a strategic partner for Indian investment in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, professional services, digital technology, education, life sciences and clean energy.
Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India (CGI) in Manchester, said:
“The India North England Opportunity Summit has demonstrated the enormous opportunities for deeper collaboration between India and businesses in the North of England. Manchester and the wider North are becoming an important gateway for Indian investment into the UK, and equally a gateway for northern businesses looking to expand into India.
“The India–North England Opportunity Summit is a starting point, not a conclusion. It’s true impact will be seen in the partnerships, investments, and ideas that follow. The North of England is a driver of this next phase of India–UK engagement, and we at the Consulate General of India are fully committed to supporting that journey.
“Over the past year, the Consulate in Manchester has worked to build strong business, academic and civic partnerships, and the level of engagement we saw at this summit shows the strength of that relationship.
“We look forward to continuing to work with partners across the North to support trade, investment and innovation between India and the UK. The North of England is perfectly poised to capitalise on the opportunities that are being created. Meaningful dialogue and new partnerships have already flourished as a result of the summit and we expect even more to develop moving forwards.”
Speaking the summit, the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, said the benefits of collaboration between India and the UK are clear:
“The complementary nature of the UK and Indian economies mean the upside is so great. More business – a new chapter for the UK and India and a great message to the world.”
H.E. Vikram K Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK, added:
“I do believe we are at the cusp of significant history between our two countries. This is really a hinge moment. What we can all do from here is going to be really a transformative opportunity for India and the UK. I genuinely believe this, not just because I’m here, but I genuinely believe this because the complementarity between our two countries is so colossal that your future growth opportunities and India’s aspiration of being a developed country by 2047 will rely, to a very large extent on getting partnerships such as this right.”
Angela Raynor MP said:
“Events like this matter because they turn ideas into investment and partnerships into jobs. The UK-India relationship doesn’t just exist in Westminster or in the south or Whitehall. It lives in our cities and communities and our businesses. This partnership runs deep. It’s not just about trade, but it’s about our cultural ties, our shared history and the people-to-people connections that bring our countries closer together.
“By strengthening the links between India and the North of England, we can build a powerful partnership, one that creates the jobs we need, drives the growth we need and opens up the opportunities for the next generation.”
The summit, organised by award-winning events agency Go Live brought together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders to explore opportunities arising from the India-UK trade relationship and to strengthen long-term economic partnerships between India and the North of England.
