Whisky chiefs have joined Prime Minister Theresa May and UK government ministers on a trade mission to India in the hope of securing new business beyond Brexit.
Mrs May, international trade secretary Liam Fox and Greg Hands, the minister of state for trade and investment, are leading the delegation as part of government efforts to woo potential new trading partners and develop existing ties for after the UK withdraws from the EU.
They have been joined in India by Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) global affairs director Sarah Dickson and Ivan Menezes, chief executive of drink giant Diageo, whose Scotch brands include global best-seller Johnnie Walker.
India is a fast growing market for Scotch whisky – in the first half of this year exports to the country were up 41% by volume, compared with a year earlier, at 41million standard 70cl bottles. By value, sales to India grew by 28% to nearly £43million.
The figures could be even more impressive but for a 150% import tariff on Scotch, which currently makes up around 1% of the total Indian spirits market.
The whisky industry has been calling for the tariff to be reduced for many years to encourage growth.
SWA says a UK trade deal with India after Brexit would open up this key market and make Scotch more accessible to larger parts of the Indian population.
It is also encouraging the UK Government to make sure global trading arrangements are better post-Brexit than those already in place.
Ms Dickson said: “Brexit poses challenges and uncertainty, but also brings opportunities if the UK can secure favourable bilateral agreements.”
