Kolkata Flags Off First Zero-Duty Export to UK Under India-UK CETA

Kolkata: In a landmark boost to India’s export ambitions, Kolkata witnessed the ceremonial flag-off of its first zero-duty export consignment to the United Kingdom under the newly implemented India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The event, held at the Kolkata Air Cargo Complex, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, marks a significant milestone for West Bengal’s trade and industrial ecosystem.

The inaugural consignment was flagged off by West Bengal Minister for Industry, Commerce & Enterprises Tapas Roy, alongside British Deputy High Commissioner for East and Northeast India Dr. Andrew Fleming and Yogendra Garg, Member (Customs), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), in the presence of senior government and industry officials.

Valued at nearly ₹28 crore (approximately US$3.4 million), the shipment comprised 22 kg of gold jewellery worth around ₹27 crore, along with 550 kg of Darjeeling tea, Indian black tea, coffee, and 3,000 kg of betel leaves, showcasing the diversity of West Bengal’s export basket.

The launch follows the implementation of the India-UK CETA, which grants immediate zero-duty access to several Indian products entering the UK market. For the gems and jewellery sector, the agreement eliminates the previous 2–4% import tariffs, a move expected to increase India’s jewellery exports to the UK to nearly US$2.5 billion over the next three years.

West Bengal is expected to be among the major beneficiaries of the agreement. Labour-intensive industries such as leather, jute, seafood, tea, and processed agricultural products will gain enhanced competitiveness after the removal of UK tariffs ranging from 4% to 16%, creating new opportunities for exports, investments, and employment generation across the state.

The Kolkata flag-off formed part of a coordinated nationwide rollout of the India-UK CETA, with similar inaugural duty-free export consignments simultaneously dispatched from Delhi, Mumbai, Surat, Jaipur, and Chennai.

Officials said the agreement strengthens India’s global trade footprint while opening new avenues for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), exporters, and manufacturers. For West Bengal, the first zero-duty shipment represents a significant step toward expanding international market access and positioning the state as a key export gateway under India’s evolving free trade architecture.