Owen Richards, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Deputy High Commission in Bengaluru, with Kedarnath Reddy of Sashimi Foods Private Limited.
Bakkafrost Scotland
Bakkafrost Scotland has confirmed that the first significant shipment of Scottish salmon has arrived in India following the ratification of the free trade agreement, which eliminated the 33% import tariff.
On July 15, the free trade agreement (FTA) between the United Kingdom and India entered into force. The agreement is expected to increase the UK's GDP by GBP 4.8 billion, boost real wages by GBP 2.2 billion, and raise bilateral trade by GBP 25.5 billion in the long term.
The salmon arrived last Friday at Sashimi Foods in Bengaluru, coinciding with Glasgow's preparations to hand over the Commonwealth Games baton to Ahmedabad. The shipment was witnessed by Trade Minister Anas Sarwar and the UK's Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia.
Regarding this, Ian Laister, managing director at Bakkafrost Scotland, expressed: "The timing is particularly significant with Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games before handing the baton to India, and this deal symbolises the enduring connections between our nations, built on shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to sustainable economic growth."
According to Bakkafrost, imports are increasingly focused on premium seafood in major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, where demand for healthy, high-quality products continues to grow.
"India is home to a rapidly expanding consumer market with a growing appetite for high-quality, premium imported products like Scottish salmon, and this first shipment under the FTA is a major milestone," assured Chandru Iyer, British Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia.
Additionally, Anas Sarwar, UK Trade Minister, noted: "Thanks to the UK’s trade deal with India, the removal of tariffs means more Scottish producers can reach millions of new customers in one of the world's fastest-growing markets, supporting jobs, exports and growth right across Scotland."
Regarding Sashimi Foods and Bakkafrost collaboration, Kedarnath Reddy, CEO and managing director of Sashimi Foods, said: “Bakkafrost Scotland’s exceptional Scottish salmon aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering Indian consumers the very best seafood from around the world. We look forward to building a strong, long-term partnership with Bakkafrost Scotland and to making premium Scottish salmon more accessible to consumers across India."
Finally, Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, concluded:
"India has phenomenal potential as a growing market for premium and sustainable Scottish salmon. We have been working hard with the UK Government and business partners in India to make the most of this opportunity for all our farming companies and the wider economy."
