Chennai Registers Its Place Under India-UK CETA, Sends Off First Consignments
Chennai:
Port Wings News Network:
In a landmark event signalling a new era of bilateral trade, the first commercial consignments valued at $4,46,046 were officially flagged off on 15 July 2026 from Chennai as the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) entered into force.
The shipments were flagged off by Dr. Sutapa Choudhury, British Deputy High Commissioner for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Keralam and Rajalakshmi Devaraj, Zonal Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Chennai.
The inaugural export event featured distinct consignments representing diverse manufacturing and agricultural sectors: Gold Jewellery exported by M/s Emerald Jewel Industry India Limited (Coimbatore); Automotive Components exported by M/s Brakes India Pvt. Ltd. (Chennai); Cast Wheels exported by M/s Wheels India Limited; and Leather Footwear exported by M/s Good Leather Shoes Pvt. Ltd.
Showcasing India’s robust value-added food processing capabilities, APEDA facilitated a 50-metric-tonne (MT) consignment of agricultural and processed food products from Tamil Nadu.
The shipment included 25 MT of Premium traditional Rice, Millets and Jaggery powder exported by M/s. Rigel Spices, alongside 25 MT of frozen Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food products from M/s. Visnukumar Traders Pvt. Ltd.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Sutapa Choudhury emphasized that the CETA represents a “New era of trade Cooperation” and will strengthen the UK–India Vision 2035 by deepening investment ties, supporting climate action, and expanding collaboration in Science, Technology and Education.
Highlighting the agreement’s potential, Rajalakshmi Devaraj stated that CETA will unlock unprecedented opportunities for Indian exporters, particularly MSMEs, by reducing trade barriers.
The ceremony jointly organized by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) & Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) – EEPC, APEDA, CLE, and GJEPC was attended by senior officials including J.V. Raja Gopal Rao (EEPC), Shobana Kumar (APEDA), D. Gokulakrishnan (CLE) and R. Surya Narayanan (GJEPC). The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. B. Punnam Kumar, ITS, Joint DGFT, Chennai.
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