Mysore Sandal Soap on London store shelves, Chikkamagaluru coffee in British cafés, and bolts of Mysore Silk in UK boutiques! These scenarios could soon move from wishful thinking to commercial reality. With ongoing trade talks, Karnataka’s most iconic products may soon find a place in everyday British life.
Karnataka’s Icons Eye The UK Market
According to The New Indian Express, talks between Karnataka’s industries department and UK trade officials, tied to the proposed India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), are actively exploring the state’s export potential. This was iterated by the British Deputy High Commissioner for Karnataka and Kerala, Chandru Iyer, this Tuesday.
Addressing a session hosted by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), Chandu Iyer gave the discussion a distinctly local flavour, pointing to brands that have already crossed the seas.
He said that MTR had been present in the UK for a while, that Hatti Kaapi’s first cup had been poured in London, and that jamun fruit from Karnataka had recently been exported there, noting that much more was yet to be offered through horticulture.
Chandru Iyer was joined by Harjinder Kang, UK Trade Commissioner for South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India. Both stressed that the UK is not merely eyeing tariff reductions but positioning itself within India’s growth story.
Chandru Iyer had iterated that the UK wants to be part of the modern India story. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested it during his Bengaluru visit. British companies have already invested significantly in Karnataka. And India, for six years running, has been the second-largest investor in the UK.
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Trade Talks Are Underway
Mr. Iyer also hinted that UK-linked technology investments in Bengaluru, the city of Karnataka, are already in the pipeline. The FTA, if concluded, could double bilateral trade by 2030. On paper, it offers near-total duty-free access for Indian goods entering the UK and significant tariff cuts for British products heading the other way.
Harjinder Kang broke it down further, explaining Indian exports in textiles, leather, footwear, marine produce, and engineering goods would enter the UK market at zero duty. India, in turn, would lower tariffs on 90% of British exports, including whisky, gin, cosmetics, and auto components, as stated by The New Indian Express.
Beyond numbers, Kang framed the deal as a shift in how the two countries engage, iterating that this wasn’t simply about removal of duties. It’s more about empowering businesses and helping them expand.
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Negotiations are ongoing, but both diplomats left little doubt: The handcrafted toys, luxury silks, and single-origin coffee of Karnataka are firmly on the UK’s radar, and the wait to see them stocked in British shops may not be long.
Cover Image Courtesy: iluhanos/CanvaPro
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