Asked to pinpoint the top sectors that he sees benefitting once the agreement comes into force, the UKIBC chief listed advanced manufacturing and engineering, energy and infrastructure, financial services, and digital and artificial intelligence.
“I separate that from tech because tech would be more of heavy engineering work as well. Last, but never the least would be healthcare and life sciences. But needless to say, there are about three, four more sectors like education, food and beverage and startups,” he said.
Jayaraman, who joined Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in the launch of a new ‘CETA Manual: A Business Utilisation Guide’ in London recently, noted how the focus will now shift towards translating the complex trade agreement into a practical roadmap for businesses operating across both markets.
“I think the India-UK corridor has been working very well, but what happens is that when you really want to take it to the next curve, like with any growth curve, if you want to change the curve there’s got to be very relevant change… and I think the CETA is that change,” he said.
The Double Contribution Convention, which would come into effect alongside the CETA and prevents temporary cross-border workers from having to pay social security contributions in both countries, is also expected to impact the growth curve, he said.
“It’s a win-win for both sides because at the end of the day, it allows the employee to feel that much better and to celebrate their experience in the United Kingdom and vice-versa… the takeaway from that will be greater productivity, greater efficiency, greater motivation, and greater mobility,” said Jayaraman.
The India-UK CETA was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK in July 2025.
After its UK parliamentary ratification process was completed, Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer set July 15 as the date for its “entry into force”, a major milestone for a pact which opened for negotiations in January 2022.
“It’s a relationship that’s there for a lifetime and what this bilateral agreement does is formalises that, so that the industry understands that both nations are very serious about how we trade with each other,” said Jayaraman.
“It is just a testament… I think in marriage parlance it is like renewing of vows,” Jayaraman added.