Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with members of the ICAI UK Chapter on Saturday, 27 June 2026, underscoring the chartered accountancy community's role in deepening economic ties between India and the United Kingdom and flagging the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement as a key enabler for professionals.

Context

Speaking to members of the United Kingdom chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Goyal 'emphasised the vital role of the CA community in strengthening the economic ties between India and the UK.' He also 'highlighted how the India-UK CETA will create new avenues for professionals,' urging members to 'leverage their skills, knowledge and professional expertise to maximise the opportunities arising from the agreement.'

The ICAI UK Chapter represents Indian chartered accountants and finance professionals based in Britain, a community positioned at the intersection of two economies that have been negotiating closer trade ties since January 2022.

Policy Backdrop

Formal negotiations for the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) were launched in January 2022 following a virtual summit between the two countries' prime ministers. The proposed agreement is designed to liberalise trade in goods, services, and investment, with a particular emphasis on services exports — a sector where India holds significant competitive advantage.

The India-UK talks are part of a broader pattern of bilateral economic agreements New Delhi has pursued with advanced economies since Britain's exit from the European Union. Similar deals with Australia and the UAE have included provisions on professional mobility and mutual recognition of qualifications, and comparable chapters are being watched closely in the India-UK negotiations.

Stakeholders and Impact

Chartered accountants and professional services firms stand to benefit most directly from any services chapter in the CETA. A mutual recognition arrangement for CA qualifications could allow Indian-trained accountants practising in the UK — and British counterparts in India — to operate with fewer regulatory barriers.

Goyal's outreach to the ICAI UK Chapter signals that the government views the Indian professional diaspora in Britain as both an economic asset and a constituency that can actively contribute to bilateral growth. His call for members to 'contribute to the shared growth of both nations' reflects New Delhi's broader strategy of engaging the Indian professional community abroad as a bridge in trade and investment diplomacy.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to whether the India-UK CETA moves toward conclusion or signature, and whether its final text includes provisions for mutual recognition of professional qualifications for accountants and other services professionals. Any such development would have direct implications for the thousands of ICAI-qualified professionals currently working across the United Kingdom.

Goyal's engagement with the ICAI UK Chapter adds momentum to the services dimension of the negotiations and reinforces the government's position that professional mobility must be a central pillar of any final agreement.