A. Sakthivel, Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), was part of the prestigious Indian Business Delegation accompanying Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal during his visit to London for UK-India Week 2026, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening economic and trade relations with the United Kingdom.
The high-level visit comes at a landmark moment as India and the UK prepare to implement the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Double Contribution Convention (DCC), both set to come into force on 15 July 2026. The agreements are expected to significantly enhance bilateral trade, boost investment flows and create new opportunities across key sectors, including textiles and apparel.
Expressing his appreciation, Dr. Sakthivel acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership in advancing India’s global trade agenda. He also congratulated Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal for his instrumental role in concluding the historic trade agreement and on receiving the prestigious “Exceptional Leadership in Elevating UK-India Ties” award.
During the visit, Dr. Sakthivel also held discussions with Peter Kyle, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, focusing on expanding India-UK cooperation in trade, innovation and investment. He highlighted the significant opportunities that the India-UK CETA presents for India’s apparel industry, particularly in enhancing market access, increasing exports and strengthening long-term collaboration between businesses in both countries.
With the implementation of CETA on the horizon, industry stakeholders believe the agreement will provide a major boost to India’s apparel exports by improving competitiveness in the UK market and fostering deeper economic engagement between the two nations.
