High-level roundtable in New Delhi explores regulatory alignment, market access and trade opportunities for food and beverage sectors.
The Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) played a key role in advancing discussions on UK-India agri-food trade during a high-level interactive roundtable hosted by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and the UK Government (UKG) at Bharat Mandapam on October 12, 2026.
The session brought together policymakers, trade bodies and leading food and beverage companies to explore opportunities arising from the landmark UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral trade, improving regulatory alignment and creating smoother pathways for market access across food and drink sectors.
The event was attended by Chief Guests The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, and The Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), underscoring the strategic importance both countries place on deepening agri-food cooperation.
Delivering the keynote context-setting address, Amit Lohani, Founder Director of FIFI, highlighted the Indian food and beverage industry’s outlook on emerging trade opportunities under CETA. He emphasised the need for closer collaboration among government agencies, industry platforms and businesses to facilitate market entry, streamline trade processes and strengthen distribution networks across India.
According to Lohani, the success of the agreement will depend on creating an enabling ecosystem that supports efficient regulatory compliance while encouraging greater participation from international food and beverage brands in the Indian market.
The roundtable drew participation from senior executives representing major global and UK companies, including Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Annandale Distillery and Walkers Shortbread. Industry associations such as the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), Salmon Scotland and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) also joined the discussions, contributing sector-specific perspectives on trade growth and market development.
A significant part of the dialogue focused on identifying practical solutions to regulatory bottlenecks, improving food safety compliance frameworks and accelerating bilateral trade across key categories including spirits, seafood, meat, dairy products and processed foods.
Industry representatives exchanged views on enhancing transparency, reducing procedural barriers and facilitating smoother movement of products between the two markets. The discussions reflected growing confidence that CETA can serve as a catalyst for expanding trade volumes and fostering long-term commercial partnerships.
The session concluded with a shared commitment from all stakeholders to strengthen business engagement, leverage the preferential trade framework offered by CETA and establish structured mechanisms for continuous market intelligence sharing and trade support. Participants also reaffirmed their commitment to building a more robust and collaborative UK-India agri-food trade ecosystem that benefits businesses, consumers and industry stakeholders in both countries.
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