The North of England’s first joint mayoral trade mission to India has highlighted 763 jobs, secured new commercial agreements and strengthened international partnerships.
The landmark mission brought together Northern Mayors and almost 200 representatives from business, universities, tourism, culture and sport.
It aimed to showcase the North’s collective strengths and unlock opportunities for trade, investment and innovation following the UK–India Free Trade Agreement.
The mission highlighted 763 jobs, 80 apprenticeships, two international university campuses and new partnerships spanning research, healthcare innovation, advanced manufacturing and skills.
Further commercial opportunities are also being developed through relationships established during the visit.
Among the key investment and commercial announcements were:
- Hexaware Technologies: A £25m UK expansion programme supporting 240 jobs in Leeds and 420 in Greater Manchester, alongside a new Design and Innovation Centre at SISTER.
- RavenAI: Almost £7.5m of investment and 20 specialist jobs through a new UK base at DiSH in Greater Manchester.
- Infosys: A commitment to recruit 80 apprentices in Greater Manchester as part of its work on the NHS PeoplePortal.
- Sage: The Newcastle-headquartered software giant announced 128 new graduate and apprenticeship opportunities across the North East and India, including 83 recruits in Newcastle and 45 positions in Bengaluru. The move will strengthen digital links, knowledge-sharing and technology career pathways between the two markets.
- AssetCool: The Batley-based business secured its first commercial licence with India’s APAR Industries, opening new markets for its Yorkshire-developed technology, which increases the capacity and efficiency of electricity networks.
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The North of England’s first joint Mayoral mission to India created hundreds of new jobs
- Low Carbon Materials: The County Durham-based company progressed plans for a new green supply chain in India, exploring a partnership with Indian start-up Ground Up to supply biochar for its carbon-negative concrete additive, ACLA.
- Optalysys and Wilson Power Solutions: Two Yorkshire businesses announced further international expansion. Optalysys is establishing a new engineering team in Bengaluru, while family-owned Wilson Power Solutions is developing a £2m transformer manufacturing facility near Chennai.
- International trade centre: A new centre opened in Bengaluru, working in partnership with ISS Airview at Newcastle Airport to help North East and Indian businesses establish a presence, trade and grow in each other’s markets.
- Universities: The University of Liverpool officially opened its Bengaluru campus, while the University of York celebrated the first month of its Mumbai campus.
Businesses and institutions across the North are already pursuing commercial leads and partnerships established during the mission.
Northern regions also plan to continue working together to strengthen links with Indian businesses and institutions, with discussions underway about welcoming a return Indian delegation in 2027.
The mission also helped forge closer relationships between Northern and Indian regional leaders.
Yorkshire’s three Mayors met Telangana’s Chief Minister to discuss greater cooperation on trade, investment and economic growth, building on agreements secured during visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai.
Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
“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.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “The strongest partnerships are built between people and places who share ambition.
Bev Craig and Steve Rotheram were both included in BusinessCloud’ 2026 Northern Leaders list.