30/09/2026
First Minister John Swinney will lead a Scottish trade mission to India next month as the Scottish Government looks to expand business, investment and export opportunities.
Mr Swinney will travel to Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai from October 20 to 27, accompanied by a delegation of Scottish business and industry representatives.
The visit will focus on strengthening trade and investment links across food and drink, renewable energy, education, tourism, culture and space, with meetings planned with senior business leaders.
Representatives from Salmon Scotland, the Scotch Wh**ky Association, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, VisitScotland and the higher education sector will join the delegation.
The mission comes as a recent report suggests the Economic and Trade Agreement could deliver more than £3 billion in opportunities for Scotland’s key sectors by 2030.
These include energy, life sciences, education, technology, digital services and food and drink.
Scottish food and wh**ky businesses will be among those looking to increase their presence in the Indian market, which has become increasingly accessible following the UK-India trade agreement.
The agreement has already seen tariffs on Scotch wh**ky entering India halved, with further opportunities expected for producers of different sizes.
The visit forms part of wider efforts to strengthen Scotland’s relationship with India through economic collaboration, cultural exchange, tourism, sport and academic partnerships.
Scottish Development International, the international arm of Scottish Enterprise, is delivering the trade and investment elements of the programme alongside the Scottish Government and Team Scotland partners.
John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland, said: "Scotland's food and drink producers have spent years building relationships in India.
"This visit is about turning those relationships into real opportunities for businesses, ensuring Scotland is well placed to benefit from growing trade and investment links with one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
"Scotland is open for business and one of the best places in the world to invest.
"India is the largest wh**ky market in the world, and the Scottish Government’s visit to India is a good opportunity to explore the market’s considerable potential for export growth over the coming years, for Scotch Wh**ky producers of all sizes."
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: "This is an important visit to a significant market for salmon from Scotland and I thank the First Minister for his time and commitment to this endeavour.
Charandeep Singh BEM, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: "We are delighted to be joining the First Minister on this important trade mission to India, which is one of the world's fastest growing economies and a crucial market for many businesses and sectors across Scotland.
"In recent years, Scottish Chambers of Commerce has been working hard to strengthen the Scotland-India business corridor through our partnerships with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
"We hope to use this visit will build on these connections and foster new relationships that will help unlock further growth opportunities, including those made possible by the UK-India free trade agreement."
"Working more closely with India will create new opportunities for trade, investment and economic growth that support jobs and prosperity across Scotland.
"We have a rich history with India and this visit is also an opportunity to deepen connections through sport, education and our shared Commonwealth ties to support tourism, cultural exchange and create lasting partnerships that benefit both countries."
Mark Kent, chief executive of the Scotch Wh**ky Association, said: "Earlier this year, the Scotch Wh**ky sector warmly welcomed the entry into force of the free trade agreement between the UK and India, which signalled an important milestone with the immediate halving of tariffs on Scotch Wh**ky in a growing market.
Reuben Aitken, managing director international at Scottish Enterprise, said: "India represents a significant opportunity for Scottish companies as one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
"Working alongside the Scottish Government and Team Scotland partners, we are delivering a programme that showcases Scotland's key sector strengths, reinforces business connections and supports new opportunities in this dynamic market."
