Mumbai, October 9
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the United Kingdom's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday in the country's financial capital as the UK PM is in India on his first official visit. The leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.
On Wednesday, Starmer held a series of wide-ranging interactions in Mumbai. He met with business leaders and described the India-UK trade partnership as "really important".
Speaking at an interaction with industry representatives, he said, "This is the biggest trade mission that the United Kingdom has ever sent to India."
He noted that his visit marks the "return leg" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to the UK earlier this year.
Calling the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in July this year between the two countries "really important", Starmer said, "It's the biggest deal we've struck since we left the European Union. I think it's also the biggest deal that India has ever struck, so it's hugely important."
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in July 2024 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK, is a landmark deal that aims to boost bilateral trade between the two nations by £25.5 billion annually.
During the visit, PM Keir announced that three major productions from India's leading film studio, films Yash Raj Films (YRF), will be shot across locations in the United Kingdom starting in 2026, as per the British High Commission.
He also lit diyas in Mumbai on Wednesday, symbolising the deep cultural ties between India and the United Kingdom as the Diwali festival approaches.
Starmer also met with football fans in Mumbai and expressed his delight at the way football brings communities together, outlining the impact of the Premier League's training programme on the development of the sport in India.
The visit of the UK PM comes after Prime Minister Modi's trip to the UK in July, where the trade deal was signed and nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins were confirmed, an official statement noted.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate that Starmer lit diyas and respected our culture. Cultural diplomacy matters as much as trade deals. The YRF films shooting in UK will also showcase Indian cinema globally!
While the FTA is promising, I hope the government ensures that small and medium enterprises also benefit, not just large corporations. The benefits should reach grassroots level entrepreneurs.
As someone working in the IT sector, this partnership could open up amazing opportunities for Indian tech professionals. The UK market access will be beneficial for our software exports.
The football connection is interesting! Premier League is already so popular here. If this helps develop football infrastructure in India, it would be wonderful for young athletes.
£25.5 billion annual trade boost is massive! This shows how India's global standing has improved. Hope this translates to better economic growth and development for our country.
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