The Northern Mayors who led the first joint trade mission to India say their new long-term links to the Asian powerhouse will deliver jobs and lasting benefits to the North of England.
The Great North mission saw metro mayors and dozens of business leaders travel to India to build business, tourism and education links, including preparing for an Indian trade mission to the UK in 2027.
It celebrated links between India and the UK that have already helped to create hundreds of jobs in the North, and also saw delegates promote the North's attractions to Indian tourism leaders. It also saw the opening of two university campuses in India.
Business investments highlighted
Among the business links highlighted during the mission were Hexaware Technologies' £25m UK investment programme that is creating hundreds of jobs in Manchester, Leeds, and across the UK.
RavenAI is investing some £7.5m in the UK, including creating 20 specialist jobs through a new UK base at DiSH in Greater Manchester. Meanwhile, Infosys has committed to recruiting 80 apprentices in Greater Manchester through its work on the NHS PeoplePortal.
Newcastle's Sage announced 128 new graduate and apprenticeship opportunities across the North East and India, with 83 new recruits in Newcastle and 45 positions in Bengaluru.
Yorkshire businesses on the mission included Optalysys, which has a new engineering team in Bengaluru, and Wilson Power Solutions, which is developing a £21 million transformer manufacturing facility near Chennai.
University campuses and partnerships
During the mission The University of Liverpool officially opened its Bengaluru campus, while the University of York celebrated the first month of its Mumbai campus. Meanwhile, the University of Manchester announced plans for a major new education, research and innovation centre in the hi-tech hub of Bengaluru – while Liverpool City Region signed a Joint Declaration of Intent with Greater Bengaluru Authority to boost economic links.
Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber signed an agreement with IKP Knowledge Park in Hyderabad's Genome Valley, creating a new Yorkshire–Telangana Innovation Bridge to link Yorkshire businesses with one of India's largest life sciences clusters.
In biomanufacturing, County Durham's Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) signed a Letter of Intent with India's Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council to launch a strategic UK-India Biomanufacturing Partnership.
Tourism push and forecasts
The Northern Mayors, VisitBritain and tourism partners also promoted the North's collective visitor offer to 150 leading Indian travel buyers and media at events in New Delhi and Mumbai.
It comes as VisitBritain's latest forecast shows India is set to become a £1.5bn inbound visitor market for the UK by 2030, an increase of 71% from 2026.
Mayors' reactions
Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said: “The North of England has always been a place of big ideas, ambition and people who make things happen. This mission has shown the North at its best: confident, united and outward-looking, demonstrating what we can achieve when we come together on the international stage.
“We've seen new investment, skilled jobs, businesses opening doors to new markets and our universities building partnerships that will create opportunities for the next generation. But what matters most is what happens next. The agreements we've made and the relationships we've built must translate into real benefits for people and businesses back home.
“We want to see more Indian businesses investing in the North, more of our businesses succeeding in India, and more students, visitors and partners building lasting connections between our communities.
“This is just the beginning. We have an opportunity to build a lasting partnership with India that creates jobs, drives growth and delivers greater prosperity for communities right across the North.”
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “India is the fastest growing G20 economy, and I want the Liverpool City Region to be at the front of the queue when it comes to the opportunities for improved trade with the UK.
“Liverpool already has a strong brand, so this mission was all about putting our region firmly on the map, building on the strong links that already exist and showing Indian businesses and investors why the Liverpool City Region is a great place to do business, invest and build for the future.
“We've already seen what can happen when we build the right relationships abroad, and I hope this visit opens the door to many more.
“This is about backing our region's future and bringing new investment, jobs and opportunities that benefit the people who live here.”
Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Our trade mission to India has delivered over 600 new jobs and tens of millions in investment that will benefit the people and businesses back in Greater Manchester. We know that to create good growth at home we have to attract investment into Greater Manchester.
“I am always proud to represent our city region on the global stage and talk to people about what makes it such a fantastic place. The last mayoral trade mission to India was in 2019 and since then we've seen the signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement and the establishment of the Consulate General for India in Manchester. And with the largest population and one of the world's fastest growing economies, India represents a huge opportunity.
“But our relationship is about more than just trade and investment. We're strengthening our ties in innovation, culture and sport, building on sectors where we have expertise – as well as our shared love of cricket.
“That's why it's so important to come out and engage with Indian businesses and open up new opportunities for those based in Greater Manchester.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Yorkshire and India are old friends. You see it at Headingley, where a 19-year-old Sachin Tendulkar became our first overseas player. You see it in the mills where families who came from India kept our textile industry going; in the Indian restaurants on our high streets; in the Diwali celebrations in our towns and cities; and in the thousands of Indian students who choose our universities every year.
“More than 80,000 people of Indian heritage call Yorkshire home. They are part of the fabric of our great county. I want them – and every Indian business, student and visitor thinking of coming here – to know they are valued, welcome, and safe in Yorkshire.
“This trade mission is about turning that old friendship into new economic opportunity. With the free trade deal now in force, and with Indian businesses creating hundreds of good jobs here in West Yorkshire, now is the time to build on that momentum, back our importing and exporting businesses, and ensure the benefits of good growth are felt in every postcode.”
South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “The strongest partnerships are built between people and places who share ambition. South Yorkshire and Telangana are both looking ahead with confidence, backing innovation, investing in people and building economies fit for the future.
“South Yorkshire has so much to offer. We're home to world-leading advanced manufacturing, pioneering research and some of the brightest talent anywhere in the country. The skills, expertise and innovation we have here are helping solve global challenges and creating opportunities for future generations.
“By strengthening the ties between our regions, we can share ideas, build new opportunities for trade and investment, and create the conditions for even more good jobs and growth in the years ahead.”
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “It doesn't matter whether you sit down to enjoy a cup of Yorkshire Tea or chai, our connection with India runs deep.
“This historic trade mission takes our shared history and transforms it into fresh opportunities for both Yorkshire and India.
“Working together as one team across Yorkshire allows us to unlock new trade, create high-quality career pathways back home and deliver on devolution.”
Government and sponsor support
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “From education to tourism, it's fantastic to see our renewed relationship with India delivering for the North, supporting hundreds of jobs and driving investment.
“I saw first-hand how the efforts of our Northern mayors and businesses on this mission helped connect British expertise, creating partnerships to generate growth in the North for years to come.”
James Cundy, Head of Mid-Market Corporate and Structured Finance at HSBC, said: “HSBC was proud to sponsor the Great North Mayoral Mission to India, bringing together businesses, universities and civic leaders to strengthen the connections between the North of England and one of the world's most dynamic economies.
“The mission has demonstrated the scale of opportunity created by the UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, from new investment and skilled jobs to partnerships in innovation, education, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
“HSBC has been supporting UK-India trade and investment and we're delighted to help Northern businesses turn ambition into action. We look forward to building on the relationships established during the mission and supporting a lasting, two-way partnership that drives growth and creates opportunities for communities across the North.”
