Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Department’s press release entitled Joint Statement of 16th Meeting of the India–UK JETCO, published on 12 October 2026, what assessment has been made of the potential economic benefits of the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement for businesses based in Essex.

The government has assessed the impact of the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement through its published impact assessment. This estimates that the agreement could increase UK GDP by 0.13%, equivalent to around £4.8 billion annually in the long run. The assessment indicates that all UK nations and English regions are expected to benefit from the agreement. For the East of England region, which includes Essex, real GVA is estimated to increase by around 0.11% in the long run. Businesses in Essex may benefit from the opportunities created by improved access to the Indian market and lower barriers to trade.