UK to give non-discriminatory treatment to Indian firms in public procurement under FTA

THE UK for the first time has agreed to accord non-discriminatory treatment to Indian companies in its public procurement system under the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, an official said.

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On May 6, the two announced conclusion of negotiations for the FTA. It will be implemented next year.

"For the first time, UK agreed to take binding commitment to provide non-discriminatory treatment to our suppliers under UK's Social Value regime in their public procurement system," the official said.

Under the UK's Social Value law, the British government departments require public authorities to have regard to economic, social and environmental well-being in connection with public services contracts.

According to the UK government, the trade pact will give UK businesses "unique and unprecedented access to India's public procurement market, comprising about 40,000 tenders with a value of at least 38 billion pounds a year.