First Export Shipment to UK Leaves India Under New CETA Agreement

During a ceremony at Sanand, near Ahmedabad, the inaugural export consignment bound for the United Kingdom departed under the newly active CETA. British Deputy High Commissioner Steve Hickling emphasized that this shipment represents a tangible proof of the agreement’s potential to broaden trade links.

The cargo, consisting of jewellery and precious stones, was dispatched from the Special Economic Zone (SEEPZ) in Andheri, Mumbai, marking the first UK‑direct export under the pact. SEEPZ Joint Development Commissioner Gyaneshwar Patil highlighted that the agreement underwent roughly a year of talks before securing approval from the UK Parliament and subsequent Indian authorisations.

Exporters such as H.K. Designs (India) LLP see this development as a timely boost, especially as they aim to diversify markets in a climate of geopolitical volatility.