Senior leaders from across the North of England are set to travel together to India this October in a landmark international mission aimed at strengthening trade, investment and cultural ties. The visit marks the first time the region has acted collectively under The Great North banner on such a scale, reinforcing its ambition to present a unified global voice.
Taking place between 12 and 16 October 2026, the delegation will bring together civic and business leaders, universities and regional partners from Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, York and North Yorkshire, the North East, and Cheshire and Warrington. The initiative aligns with the newly implemented UK–India Free Trade Agreement, announced on 15 July 2026, which is forecast to boost annual bilateral trade by £25.5 billion by 2040.
Delivered in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the mission represents the UK’s first joint mayoral-led engagement with India. It also acts as an early regional response to the trade deal, with DBT figures showing UK–India trade already reached £47.9 billion in 2025, up 10% year-on-year.
A coordinated push for growth, investment and collaboration
The delegation will include a broad mix of stakeholders, including SMEs, major businesses and academic institutions, all working to strengthen economic and knowledge exchange links. Together, they will showcase the North’s strengths across sectors such as:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Life sciences
- Digital technology
- Clean energy
- Financial and professional services
- Creative industries
A programme of activity is planned in India, including a flagship opening event led by the British High Commission in New Delhi. This will highlight the region’s combined economic potential – valued at more than £340 billion, with a population of 16 million people and over 1.1 million businesses.
Alongside trade discussions, the mission will feature sector-specific engagement sessions, cultural exchanges, and sporting events designed to deepen relationships beyond commerce.
Boosting tourism and people-to-people connections
A significant focus will also be placed on the visitor economy, with dedicated events involving Indian travel trade partners. Working alongside VisitBritain and Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, Northern tourism organisations aim to position the region as a key destination for Indian travellers.
India is already one of the UK’s fastest-growing inbound markets, generating over 600,000 visits annually, with projections suggesting this could rise to one million visitors by 2030, contributing approximately £1 billion in spend.
The mission also builds on strong cultural ties, with nearly 540,000 people of Indian origin living across the North, and increasing collaboration in education, business and creative sectors. Indian firms have invested more than £1 billion in the North West alone, supporting over 6,700 jobs, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Building on growing regional momentum
The visit follows the successful India North England Opportunity Summit held in Manchester in March 2026, which brought together more than 300 leaders from across government, business and academia. It also marks one year since the opening of the Consulate General of India in Manchester, an important milestone in strengthening bilateral ties.
Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:
“The Great North was created to do something the North of England has rarely had the opportunity to do before: come together with a single voice and tell our story to the world. This mission to India is a powerful example of that vision in action. It is the North taking control of its own destiny, coming together to build relationships, attract investment and create opportunities that will benefit our people, businesses and communities for generations to come.
“What makes this partnership especially meaningful is that the connections between the North and India are about far more than economics. They can be seen in the communities that enrich our towns and cities, in the students and entrepreneurs who move between our countries, in our shared love of cricket, and increasingly in the creative, digital and screen sectors where Northern and Indian talent are finding new ways to work together.
“By bringing Northern leaders, businesses and institutions together in India, this mission will help unlock new investment and back SMEs to export and grow. It will help create good jobs, drive economic growth and ensure that the benefits of international trade and investment are felt in towns and cities right across the North.
“Together, we have an opportunity to write the next chapter of that story and ensure the North is recognised around the world as a place that is confident, outward-looking and ready to lead.”
Image credit: iStock
