BMPA Chief Executive John Powell will join senior UK Government ministers on a high-level trade mission to India this week, putting the interests of British meat processors firmly on the agenda as the two countries look to build on their new free trade agreement.
The visit brings together senior Government figures, regional leaders and representatives of British industry to strengthen commercial ties with one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets.
John will be travelling as part of the UK delegation alongside the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other senior ministers, with a programme of Government-to-Government engagement and opportunities to build relationships with Indian businesses and trade representatives. For BMPA, the mission offers a valuable opportunity to represent members directly in discussions that could help shape future trading relationships and open new markets for British meat products.
Turning trade agreements into trade opportunities
The UK–India Free Trade Agreement represents an important step towards closer economic ties between the two countries, with the potential to create new opportunities for British food and drink exporters.
But securing a trade deal is only the beginning. For the meat industry, converting that agreement into meaningful export business depends on addressing the practical requirements of international trade, including market access, veterinary certification, regulatory approvals and the commercial relationships needed to get British products into overseas markets. These are areas where direct engagement between industry and Government is particularly important.
BMPA’s participation in the mission will provide an opportunity to highlight the capabilities of Britain’s meat processing sector, understand the opportunities emerging in the Indian market and ensure that the industry’s priorities are heard by those involved in developing future trading arrangements.
Making the case for British meat
As a major global economy with a large and increasingly affluent consumer market, India presents potential opportunities for British food and drink businesses. For meat processors, however, the opportunities will depend on the products involved, market demand and the regulatory conditions governing access.
Alongside the potential for increased exports, the mission offers an opportunity to explore where British meat products, including specialist cuts and higher-value products, might find new customers. It also provides a platform for raising the practical challenges that exporters face and identifying where closer cooperation between UK and Indian authorities could help remove obstacles to trade. For BMPA members, having their industry’s representative involved in these conversations is an important part of ensuring that future opportunities are commercially relevant and achievable.
