Invest Manchester: UK-India Free Trade Agreement Opens New Doors for APAC Manufacturers
Following the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, Manchester is positioning itself as a primary hub for Asia-Pacific manufacturers looking to enter European markets. The city leverages its strong STEM graduate pipeline and lower operating costs to attract international investment.
Why it matters
This reflects the shifting landscape of international trade and the strategic efforts of regional cities to capitalize on new bilateral economic agreements.
As the UK-India Free Trade Agreement comes into force, Invest Manchester, the inward investment agency for Greater Manchester, is positioning Manchester as the UK’s premier destination for Asia-Pacific manufacturers seeking to expand into the UK and European markets.
The landmark agreement, which came into force on 15 July 2026, is projected to increase annual UK-India bilateral trade by £25.5 billion by 2040. With tariff reductions on advanced machinery and manufacturing-related goods, the agreement presents new opportunities for APAC manufacturers, with Manchester offering a strategic location from which to capitalise on this growing trade relationship.
The world’s first industrial city, Manchester is now the UK’s largest advanced manufacturing and engineering cluster, home to more than 8,000 companies and over 115,000 employees. Having attracted more international investment than any other UK regional city over the past decade, Manchester also boasts the UK’s fastest-growing economy.
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