By KLTV Newsdesk –

Mayor Tracy Brabin champions region’s strengths in creative, digital and financial sectors during historic UK delegation

West Yorkshire is already seeing major returns from the Prime Minister’s trade mission to India, with more than £7 million in confirmed investment and over 250 new jobs secured for the region’s key industries.

Mayor Tracy Brabin travelled to Mumbai this week as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s largest-ever UK Government trade delegation to India, using the platform to promote West Yorkshire’s world-class business strengths across creative industries, digital technology and financial services.

With existing UK–India trade already worth £1 billion, the delegation aimed to build momentum following the UK-India free trade agreement (CETA) and support the delivery of West Yorkshire’s Local Growth Plan.

Major Investments Confirmed for Leeds

Two fast-growing Indian tech firms announced significant expansions into West Yorkshire during the mission:

• Mastek confirmed a £2 million investment to upgrade its Leeds office, creating 200 new jobs.

• Algorithms Software committed £5 million to establish a new Leeds office, generating 53 additional roles.

Showcasing West Yorkshire on the Global Stage

Mayor Brabin joined the Prime Minister for a high-profile visit to Yash Raj Film Studios, where studio executives agreed to film three new Bollywood productions in the UK.

This builds on growing regional interest from Indian filmmakers, following recent shoots in Headingley such as the upcoming Chadka Express.

She then joined a roundtable at FICCI Frames, India’s leading creative industries summit, strengthening ties between West Yorkshire’s media sector and Indian film leaders.

At Global FinTech Fest 2025, Mayor Brabin promoted West Yorkshire’s growing reputation as the “Northern Square Mile”, positioning Leeds as England’s second-largest financial hub and a prime destination for Indian FinTech companies seeking access to UK and European markets.

Local Businesses at the Heart of the Mission

Mayor Brabin was joined by three key regional exporters:

• Paxman Coolers (MedTech)

• Brandon Medical (Medical Devices)

• Group Rhodes (Advanced Manufacturing)

The delegation enabled direct meetings with Indian buyers and partners, supporting the Combined Authority’s mission to boost exports from high-growth sectors.

“Devolution in Action”

Reflecting on the visit, Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “To be a part of the largest UK trade delegation ever sent to India was an incredible honour.

“There to champion West Yorkshire’s amazing strengths in the creative industries and financial services, we were building on the success of our previous trade missions to India, proving our worth as a global region.

“This is devolution in action: Mayors working with government to secure the jobs and investment that will put more money in people’s pockets back home.”

Her efforts were backed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised UK-India cooperation and confirmed the free trade deal would “create job opportunities for young people, expand trade, and benefit industries and consumers of both countries.”

Setting the Stage for Future Growth

This week’s success comes as part of a wider strategy by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to deliver the £7 billion Local Growth Plan.

A follow-up regional trade mission to India is already planned for 2026, alongside further delegations to other key global markets.

The mission echoes the success of Mayor Brabin’s 2024 trade visit to Nashville, which secured a landmark Healthtech Bridge partnership to accelerate collaboration across life sciences and digital health.