The Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) participated in a high-level interactive roundtable convened by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) and the UK Government (UKG) at Bharat Mandapam on October 12, 2026, to deliberate on opportunities and challenges shaping the future of UK-India agri-food and beverage trade.
The meeting served as an important platform for advancing bilateral commercial engagement following the implementation of the landmark UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Discussions centred on enhancing market access, facilitating trade, strengthening regulatory cooperation and addressing compliance requirements across key food and beverage categories.
The session was attended by The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, and The Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), underscoring the strategic significance of agri-food trade within the broader UK-India economic partnership.
Delivering the keynote context-setting address, Amit Lohani, Founder Director of FIFI, presented the perspective of India's food and beverage import sector on the evolving trade landscape under CETA. He highlighted the need for closer coordination between government authorities, trade bodies and industry stakeholders to enhance market access, streamline regulatory processes and expand distribution channels across the country.
Lohani emphasized that sustained collaboration would be essential to unlocking the full potential of the agreement and ensuring a conducive business environment for international food and beverage brands seeking to strengthen their presence in India.
The roundtable brought together senior executives and industry representatives from leading international companies, including Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Annandale Distillery and Walkers Shortbread. Participation from sectoral bodies such as the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), Salmon Scotland and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) further enriched the discussions.
Deliberations focused on practical measures to address regulatory bottlenecks, improve food safety compliance frameworks and stimulate trade growth across spirits, seafood, meat, dairy and processed food segments. Participants exchanged views on creating more efficient regulatory pathways, promoting transparency and accelerating the movement of products between both markets.
The session concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to deepen commercial engagement, leverage the preferential provisions of CETA and establish structured mechanisms for ongoing trade support, market intelligence exchange and industry collaboration. The discussions reinforced the growing momentum behind UK-India agri-food trade and the collective determination of public and private sector stakeholders to strengthen bilateral commercial ties.
