Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has called upon British enterprises to explore investment opportunities across the state, pitching Haryana as an emerging hub for global trade, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship. Addressing a high-level trade forum, the Chief Minister urged British industry leaders with the slogan “Come to Haryana, Invest in Haryana, Partner with Haryana,” stating that the administration is focused on connecting local small and medium enterprises, alongside emerging startups, to overseas markets. Saini noted that the state’s youth are rapidly shifting from job seekers to innovators and job creators, making international partnerships vital to building sustainable economic solutions.
Speaking on the bilateral potential, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh, Alba Smeriglio, highlighted that the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) serves as a prime catalyst to deepen commercial and academic ties. She observed that Haryana’s core strengths in automobile assembly, agriculture, food processing, and technological services seamlessly complement British expertise in research, advanced manufacturing, education, and financial management. Smeriglio added that key regional industrial nodes like Gurugram, Faridabad, Manesar, and Panipat provide ideal launchpads for British firms looking to set up operations in northern India.
Reviewing the initial impact of the trade pact, Pawan Choudhary, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Foreign Cooperation, confirmed that within two months of CETA coming into force on July 15, Haryana had begun translating policy frameworks into tangible export contracts and job creation. He noted that Haryana has grown into an estimated $154-billion economy expanding at roughly 11 percent annually, with outbound exports climbing from $12 billion in 2019-20 to $19 billion in 2025-26. The state now hosts more than 12,200 registered startups and serves as a major national base for Global Capability Centres and Business Process Outsourcing hubs.
During the event, Chief Minister Saini and Deputy High Commissioner Smeriglio toured an industrial showcase featuring electric vehicles, telecommunications hardware, agricultural goods, and heavy engineering machinery. Corporate leaders from established British and multinational entities, including HSBC, JCB, Radio Design, and the University of Southampton, presented their operational case studies, emphasizing the favourable business climate and skilled talent pool available in the state. Several key officials attended the proceedings, including Union Commerce Joint Secretary Saket Kumar, Pataudi MLA Bimla Choudhry, and Haryana Foreign Cooperation Secretary Ashok Meena.
