On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Mumbai to discuss the recently sealed UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and a technology security initiative which was announced in July 2024. The meeting holds a key step in deepening bilateral economic engagement and broadening cooperation in digital innovation, trade, and investment.
Hindustan Times reported that as per an official release, 64 Indian firms will collectively invest £1.3 billion ($1.75 billion) in Britain, which was announced during the UK's biggest-ever trade mission to India, consisting of more than 100 companies and organizations travel with Prime Minister Starmer.
Keir Starmer meets Nandan Nilekani
As part of his two-day Mumbai visit, on Wednesday, Starmer had a meeting with Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, the mastermind behind India's Aadhaar program in 2009, to learn from him about the rollout of a national digital identification system for the UK. "He wanted to hear from him," said Starmer's spokesperson Dave Pares.
Biggest trade mission ever sent to India
Addressing industry representatives in Mumbai, Starmer said, “This is the biggest trade mission that the United Kingdom has ever sent to India.” Emphasizing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in July this year, Stramer said, “It's the biggest deal we have 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.”
UK-India Free Trade Agreement
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) agreement was signed in July 2024 during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to London- with an aim to boost annual bilateral trade between the two nations by £25.5 billion annually.
