New Delhi, May 12 -- Trade agreements are never straightforward. But once agreed, the benefits between the two countries involved are hugely significant. At a time when the need for them is probably the greatest, the positive optics of an India-UK trade agreement cannot be underestimated.

The recently announced deal is expected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5, the UK's gross domestic product (GDP) by £4.8 billion and wages by £2.2 billion each year in the long run.

The UK-India economic corridor has always been one of huge potential and promise. India is the world's fastest-growing major economy, home to a dynamic, tech-savvy population and an expanding middle class. The UK, meanwhile, is a global services powerhouse...