techUK, UKIBC and NASSCOM develop joint position paper to drive growth in digital trade

When Prime Ministers Modi and Johnson declared their shared intent to initiate discussions on a comprehensive UK-India Free Trade Agreement in May 2021, they also set a target to double bilateral trade by 2030. The Indian IT industry has welcomed this declaration to deepen our long-standing trade and investment relationship and is keen to play its part in achieving the ambitious target.

With this in mind, the leading industry associations for the technology sector in India and UK – UK India Business Council, NASSCOM, and techUK – have come together to develop a joint position paper on a policy agenda for both governments to consider in relation to cross-border data transfers between the UK and India.

The paper has been developed through consultation with industry in both the UK and India. It considers the opportunity presented by the initiation of the FTA negotiations in parallel with the ongoing domestic reform exercises on data regulation taking place in both countries.

The paper offers recommendations for both governments to consider in relation to:

1. Potential clauses on international data transfers under any future India-UK FTA;
2. Directions to consider to align their domestic regimes on international data transfers;
3. Directions to consider to build towards a mutual data adequacy partnership.

Through this paper, the UKIBC, NASSCOM and techUK seek to underline the importance that free and open data transfers hold for the India-UK digital trade corridor. The UK is the second largest market for the Indian IT industry, contributing almost 17-18% to the export revenue. We are confident that the technology sector will continue to be a critical linchpin of this bilateral partnership.

You can read the full report here.

.Julian David, CEO, techUK

“techUK is pleased to partner with NASSCOM and UKIBC on highlighting the importance of free and open data transfers for the UK-India digital trade corridor. Digital and data services are going to drive the future trading partnership between the UK and India, and it is therefore important that digital trade is central to future bilateral trade relations. To deepen tech collaboration and drive innovation across borders we must ensure that a future trade agreement includes strong provisions for cross-border data flows with an adequate data protection regime, removal of data localization requirements, increased mobility of talent and investment whilst also reducing barriers to business growth. We will continue working with the UK and Indian tech communities to advocate for comprehensive digital trade arrangements in the future UK-India trade relationship.”

Julian David

CEO, techUK

Julian David is the CEO of techUK, the leading technology trade association that aims to realise the positive outcomes that digital technology can achieve for people, society, the economy and the planet.

Julian led the transformation of techUK from its predecessor Intellect in 2014, putting an increased focus on the growth and jobs the technology industry offers in a global economy. He has since led its impressive expansion driving forward the tech agenda in key areas such as skills, innovation, business success and public sector transformation.  He leads techUK’s 90-strong team representing a thousand British based tech companies, comprising global and national champions and 600 SMEs. In 2020, techUK joined forces with TechSkills, the employer-led organisation that aims to improve the flow of talent into the digital workforce and open up access for all to high value tech jobs.

Julian represents techUK on a number of external bodies including the Digital Economy Council, the National Cyber Security Advisory Council and the Department of Business and Trade’s Strategic Trade Advisory Group. He is member of the NTA Advisory Board of DIGITALEUROPE and is a member of the Board of the Health Innovation Network the South London Academic Health Science Network.

Julian has over thirty years of experience in the technology industry. Prior to joining techUK, he had a series of leadership roles at IBM including Vice President for Small and Medium Business and Public Sector.  After leaving IBM he worked as a consultant helping tech SMEs establish successful operations in the U.K. His personal interests include Football (West Ham, Balham FC and Real Madrid) and Art.

Email:

[email protected]

Twitter:

@techUKCEO

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