New Delhi opens govt procurement to UK companies
UK-origin goods
with just 20% domestic content will be treated as 'Class II' local suppliers under India's
Public Procurement Order
(PPO), a classification previously reserved for Indian suppliers with 20-50% local content under the CETA.
India will offer concessions in government procurement to UK firms under the
free trade agreement
, a move experts see as a strategic shift away from using public procurement as a tool for domestic industrial development. After the UAE, India has opened its central government procurement for British companies, subject to certain conditions.
"The GP chapter provides a legal guarantee for Indian suppliers to be treated on par with UK suppliers regarding social value considerations within procurement processes, ensuring a level playing field for Indian businesses to compete fairly," said an official.
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