British retail major Tesco plans to establish a distribution centre in Karnataka, potentially creating 15,000 employment opportunities, Industries Minister M B Patil announced.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the British Deputy High Commission to celebrate the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Minister Patil highlighted growing UK investment interest. It will grant duty-free access to 99 percent of India’s exports to the UK and 90 percent of UK exports to India, unlocking new business opportunities.

In addition to Tesco, Rolls-Royce is exploring fresh investments in Karnataka, joining British firms like BAE Systems, ARM, HSBC, and Aviva, which already have significant operations in Bengaluru and across the state. “The FTA will enable British companies to further scale up their investments in Karnataka,” Patil said. The event was attended by Trade Commissioner Harjinder Singh, British Deputy High Commissioner Chandru Iyer, and senior officials, underscoring the strategic importance of the agreement for both nations.