Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on a two-day visit to India. He landed in Mumbai on Wednesday. This marks his first official visit to the country. Starmer is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs pointed out on Saturday.
Starmer is scheduled to meet PM Modi on Thursday at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai and will also attend the CEO Forum and the Global Fintech Fest 2025 at the Jio World Centre.
His visit assumes importance as he is set to hold high-level talks to boost the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The UK PM will also review the Vision 2035 Roadmap for future bilateral cooperation.
Modi and Starmer will also explore opportunities under the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and exchange views on regional and global matters, including trade, technology, defence, and climate cooperation, according to sources.
The focus on Starmer's visit is trade and economy. It comes soon after the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Members of the Scotch Whisky Association are accompanying Starmer on his trade trip to India to explore ways to bolster whisky exports — a step that could bring in about £1 billion a year and create over 1,000 new jobs in the UK.
During his visit, Starmer will hold crucial meetings with senior ministers and business leaders to boost trade and diplomatic ties between India and the UK.
The India-UK trade deal has been sealed, and now it is a challenge and responsibility is to put it into action. The FTA would open new markets for British exports, and Starmer’s visit aims to push this goal forward. The UK government has dubbed CETA as a “landmark” pact that will enhance growth nationwide and create export opportunities for other Scottish products like shortbread and Irn Bru.
According to British government estimates, CETA could bolster bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, increase the UK’s GDP by £4.8 billion, and raise wages by £2.2 billion each year in the long term.
