London (Gurpreet Singh): Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has stated that the ‘Made in India’ label serves as a powerful symbol of the nation’s global reputation and unwavering dedication to quality, emphasizing that manufacturing excellence is not merely a corporate benchmark but a core national responsibility. Highlighting the international footprint of the Tamil Nadu-based Florence Shoe Company during a high-profile business plenary session in London, Goyal cited its global trajectory as a prime example of how Indian entrepreneurs are elevating Brand India’s image on the world stage through world-class manufacturing.
Addressing global investors and business leaders, the minister shared an anecdote of an international traveler who discovered a luxury pair of Hugo Boss shoes at Cairo Airport, only to find the words “Made in India” proudly stamped on the label. The high-end product had been manufactured by founder Aqeel Ahmed Panaruna’s firm in the industrial hub of Ambur, Tamil Nadu. In a subsequent statement shared on social media, Goyal praised entrepreneurs like Panaruna for treating quality as a national duty, noting that their dedication has not only placed Indian craftsmanship on the global shelves of iconic premium brands but has simultaneously generated large-scale rural employment, championed women’s empowerment in manufacturing, and pioneered sustainable zero liquid discharge environmental technologies.
The business plenary concluded Goyal’s official visit to London from June 25 to June 27, 2026, which focused primarily on fine-tuning the implementation frameworks for the landmark India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and its companion Double Contribution Convention (DCC). Scheduled to formally take effect on July 15, 2026, the historic trade pact is set to eliminate tariffs on approximately ninety-nine percent of India’s exports to the United Kingdom, offering immediate duty-free market access to highly labor-intensive domestic sectors such as textiles, leather, and footwear.
To help local businesses maximize the structural benefits of the incoming trade architecture, Goyal announced the strategic deployment of one thousand specialized advisory personnel across the country alongside a comprehensive technological upgrade of the national trade portal. The minister unveiled the “UK-India CETA Business Utilisation Manual” developed by the UK India Business Council and HSBC India, urging corporate delegations from both democracies to leverage the full capacity of the framework to catalyze long-term investment, secure technology transfers, and build highly resilient bilateral supply chains.
