As part of our international work, we have recently conducted research on the Indian market to identify what opportunities exist for us and RIBA Members.
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in May, offers UK businesses a wide range of opportunities to trade successfully with India. Some of the key factors helping this include:
- India being a top priority partner for the UK, and our government wanting to elevate that ambition across all aspects of the relationship through a deal that drives economic growth for the UK as a whole
- a deal with India, projected to be the fourth largest global importer by 2035, provides opportunities for businesses across the UK, and drives economic growth for both countries
- boosting the trading relationship with India, worth £41 billion in the 12 months to September 2024, with UK exports to India worth £17 billion. The UK India investment relationship supported over 600,000 jobs across both economies (according to Grant Thornton), whilst Indian FDI projects in the UK created over 7,500 jobs in 2023/24
- by 2030, India’s middle class is estimated to be 60 million and rising, reaching a quarter of a billion by 2050.
This Trade Agreement ties together well with the Trade Strategy and the recently published Industrial Strategy, all highlighting India as a priority market. The Industrial Strategy is part of the government's plan to pursue a new economic approach playing to the strengths of eight sectors including the Creative Industries sector, which architecture sits under in the UK. Combined, this allows a great opportunity for collaborative relationships between architects in the UK and businesses in India.
Sector and infrastructure development in India
The Indian Built Environment (BE) sector, especially the construction sector, is fourth largest in the world, valued at over £701 billion, it contributes 10% of India’s GDP, and is expected to be the third largest in the world by 2030. It is the second largest employer after the agriculture sector. Additionally, the Indian real estate industry is expected to reach $1 Trillion USD by 2030 from $120 Billion USD in 2017. Increased urbanisation and infrastructure developments are the key drivers for India’s BE sector.
This rapid growth of Indian Built Environment sector is a result of increasing urbanisation, government-backed initiatives, and strong private sector participation. This sector provides substantial opportunities for technologies, products and services in digital and sustainable construction because of:
- Rapid digital transformation: India is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, with a growing emphasis on smart cities, e-governance, and digital infrastructure/BE
- Green initiatives: The Indian government is committed to promoting sustainable development and has ambitious targets for renewable energy and green construction
- Potential for collaboration: There are ample opportunities for UK businesses to collaborate with Indian companies on technology transfer, joint ventures, or partnerships.
In the last couple of years, infrastructure development has been a key priority in India. The government of India’s National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) envisages capital investment worth £1.2 trillion by 2025. India’s NIP focusses on environment, sustainability of infrastructure, creating smart infrastructure and adoption of emerging technologies: AI, Machine Learning, and Building Information Modelling (BIM) among others.
Gati Shakti is a new initiative where 16 Ministries and states are getting together for an integrated planning and coordinated implementation to catapult the speed of infrastructure connectivity projects. It is aimed at leveraging technology to improve planning and execution of infrastructure projects.
Why working in India is a great opportunity for British architects
Massive urban expansion
- India is adding millions of urban residents annually; cities are expanding at scale
- Government plans include creating over 100 smart cities, industrial corridors, and infrastructure megaprojects
Premium private sector demand
- HNWIs and developers in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad are seeking global-standard, signature architecture
- British architects with a track record in luxury, sustainability, or heritage-sensitive design often command high prestige
Green and sustainable design
- With India’s extreme weather and growing environmental pressures, demand is rising for climate-responsive, energy-efficient buildings
- UK firms strong in green certification, adaptive reuse, and net-zero concepts are well positioned
Institutional and cultural projects
- UK-based firms have already worked on museums, embassies, academic buildings, and more in India
- Cultural familiarity and design philosophy often align with India’s colonial legacy in architecture
As we develop our plans to explore the Indian market further, we would like to hear from you.
If you have worked or are currently working on projects in India, if your practice has an office in India, or if you are interested in working in India, we would like to hear from you. Please get in touch with us via email by 21 July 2025.
