The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on Thursday in London, will propel exports of traditional Indian products like Bhagalpur silk, Pashmina shawls, Kolhapuri chappals, and Thanjavur dolls by granting duty-free access to the UK market. Signed as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) the pact awaits British Parliament approval, expected within a year.

“Bhagalpur silk, renowned for its lustrous texture, will thrive in the UK, uplifting Bihar’s artisans,” a commerce ministry official said. Other textiles, including Baluchari sarees, Bandhini tie-dye, Kanchipuram sarees, and Tiruppur knitwear, will also benefit. In agriculture, makhana, shahi litchi, Araku coffee, and Kashmiri saffron gain enhanced market access, with Araku’s organic coffee poised to boost Andhra Pradesh farmers’ incomes.

Traditional crafts like Natugram dolls, Sikki grass products, Channapatna toys, and Vellore chappals, alongside Morbi ceramics and Kashmir willow bats, will see increased demand. “Kolhapuri footwear, with its GI tag, will enhance Maharashtra’s craft heritage in UK retail,” the official noted. The FTA eliminates duties on 99% of Indian exports, strengthening India’s $1.2 billion garment and $811 million agri-export markets to the UK, part of a projected £25.5 billion trade increase by 2040.

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Posts on X highlight enthusiasm for showcasing India’s heritage, though some artisans seek training to meet UK standards. The agreement supports India’s MSMEs and rural economies, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ initiative to globalize traditional craftsmanship.

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