India-UK trade deal to bring more trade and branch campuses of UK universities in Kerala

KOCHI Aug 1: The India-UK trade deal which came into force on July 15 offers opportunities for Kerala in areas including fisheries and marine products, spices and information technology (IT) in terms of cost advantages and ease of doing business, British Deputy High Commissioner Sutapa Choudhury said here on Thursday.

Further, Ms. Choudhury evinced interest in having branch campuses of U.K. universities in Kerala. The topic had also come during the discussions she held with the Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister Roji M. John. While memorandums of understanding have been signed for 10 British universities to establish branch campuses across India, so far none of them is in Kerala. “We really want to change that. There is clearly a strong demand for education in Kerala,” she said.

The trade deal – the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – makes it “cheaper, quicker and easier” to do business between India and U.K., Ms. Choudhury, who is the British Deputy High Commissioner covering Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, said.

At a media interaction organised by the Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), she listed fisheries and marine products, spices and food processing, IT and digital, textiles and handloom, engineering and advanced manufacturing and yoga, wellness, healthcare as six areas where Kerala can benefit under the trade deal signed in July 2025 and which officially came into force on July 15, 2026. Ms. Choudhury described the six areas as Kerala’s “unique strengths.”

On an official visit to Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the trade deal, Ms. Choudhury met Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and the Ministers for Health, Higher Education, Industries on Wednesday and visited Technopark Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

The Government of India had earlier this month described CETA as an “ inclusive and future-oriented agreement.” It is expected to strengthen India’s export competitiveness by granting zero-duty access on nearly 99% of India’s exports, expand bilateral trade, attract investment and create new opportunities for businesses, the Indian government had said.

Further, Ms. Choudhury evinced interest in having branch campuses of U.K. universities in Kerala. The topic had also come during the discussions she held with the Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister Roji M. John. While memorandums of understanding have been signed for 10 British universities to establish branch campuses across India, so far none of them is in Kerala. “We really want to change that. There is clearly a strong demand for education in Kerala,” she said.

On its part, the TCCI urged the British Deputy High Commissioner to explore the possibility of opening a Consulate or a Honorary Consulate of her country in Thiruvananthapuram. Officials of the British High Commission Sijoy Thomas and Sareen Solomon, TCCI president S.N. Raghuchandran Nair, secretary Abraham Thomas and vice president Suresh Thomas were also present.

Speaking to ANI during her visit to Thiruvananthapuram, Choudhury said the agreement, which came into force on July 15, is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade between India and the UK over the long term.

‘We’re really excited about the increase in bilateral trade between the two countries, projected to grow by Pound 25.5 billion in the long run. Your state of Kerala stands to gain in a multitude of sectors, from marine products to textiles, yoga and wellbeing, all of the key strengths of Kerala where we’re going to see tariff lines eliminated fully or reduced,’ she said.

She added that the agreement would create ‘a much easier, faster and cheaper way of doing trade between Keralam and the UK.’

Highlighting the state’s export infrastructure, Choudhury said Keralam is well placed to take advantage of the trade agreement.

‘Kerala has got a really strong infrastructure to support a trade deal like this. Last night I went to visit the Vizhinjam Port myself and I saw what great potential there is both for the State but also for India and South Asia more widely,’ she said.

She added that exporters from sectors in which Keralam has established strengths are expected to benefit from the agreement.

The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, brought into force on July 15, aims to strengthen bilateral trade and investment by improving market access and reducing tariffs across multiple sectors. The agreement is expected to support trade, investment and business opportunities between the two countries.