India, UK discuss advancing shared business priorities and economic ties: Piyush Goyal
New Delhi, June 2
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said he had "great conversations" with UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle on charting the next phase of India-UK economic engagement, advancing shared business priorities and further strengthening the "robust and forward-looking partnership" between the two countries.
In a post on social media platform X, Goyal said he was delighted to welcome Peter Kyle and his delegation to India.
"Delighted to welcome my friend, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, and his delegation to India," he said.
"Had great conversations on charting the next phase of India-UK economic engagement, advancing shared business priorities, and further strengthening our robust and forward-looking partnership," the minister added.
The meeting comes amid growing economic and trade cooperation between India and the United Kingdom following the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July 2025.
Earlier last month, Goyal had held a virtual interaction with the UK trade minister to explore ways to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties while fully leveraging opportunities under the India-UK CETA.
India has been actively expanding its network of free trade agreements (FTAs) in recent years as part of its broader strategy to strengthen global trade partnerships and integrate more deeply into global supply chains.
According to a recent report, India's trade with strategic FTA partners grew 92 per cent between FY21 and FY25, significantly outpacing the 41.5 per cent increase in India's overall merchandise trade with the rest of the world.
India currently has nine FTAs covering 38 countries, including agreements with the UAE, Australia, EFTA nations, the UK, Oman, New Zealand and the European Union.
Last month, Goyal also underlined the importance of a balanced and responsive World Trade Organization (WTO) that effectively addresses the concerns and aspirations of developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who works in trade, this is promising. But we need to ensure Indian farmers and small businesses aren't left behind in these deals. Balance is key.
CETA has been a game-changer for Indian IT services and pharma exports. The UK market is finally opening up properly. Good move by the government! 🎯
While FTAs are beneficial, I worry about the impact on Indian manufacturing if we're not careful. Need to protect our domestic industries while competing globally. Hope the minister has a clear roadmap.
Delighted to see our foreign policy focusing on economic diplomacy. Better than just photo ops. Let's hope this translates into real benefits for common citizens, not just big corporates.
Great diplomacy! But I want to see more investments in renewable energy and tech sectors. UK has expertise in green finance - perfect opportunity for Make in India. Let's not waste it! 🌱
Finally, our trade deals are moving beyond just paperwork. The 92% growth with FTA partners is impressive. But let's also focus on making it easier for small exporters to benefit from these agreements.
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