London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday interacted with his UK counterpart Keir Starmer in London ahead of the signing of a historic free trade deal between the two countries. PM Modi is on a two-day visited to the United Kingdom. Visuals of PM Modi's meeting with Starmer also surfaced online.
India and the UK signed the free trade deal, with the aim to double bilateral trade between two countries to USD 120 billion by 2030. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and British Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds signed the deal in presence of PM Modi and Starmer.
Hours before meeting PM Modi, Starmer called the India trade deal a 'Plan for Change in action'.
In a post on X, Starmer wrote, "A landmark deal with India means jobs, investment and growth here in the UK. It creates thousands of British jobs, unlocks new opportunities for businesses and puts money in the pockets of working people.
According to a statement released earlier by the British High Commission, the UK-India trade agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade by PS25.5 billion annually. The deal is also expected to unlock thousands of jobs, lower tariffs, and increase market access for businesses in both countries.
"This landmark trade deal with India is a major win for Britain. It will create thousands of British jobs across the UK, unlock new opportunities for businesses, and drive growth in every corner of the country," Prime Minister Keir Starmer was quoted as saying in the statement.
The agreement reportedly aims to reduce average tariffs on British products such as cars, medical devices, cosmetics, and soft drinks from 15 per cent to 3 per cent--benefiting Indian consumers.
At the same time, it will ease market entry for Indian exporters, further increasing the UK's current imports of PS11 billion worth of Indian goods.
PM Modi's Meeting With Starmer:
During the bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Starmer at Hawtry Room, both leaders held wide ranging discussions on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations and also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance.
During PM Modi's visit, both leaders are also expected to unveil the UK-India Vision 2035, a renewed Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that outlines a broader roadmap for collaboration in areas such as defence, technology, climate, education, and national security.
Later in the day, the Indian Prime Minister will also call on King Charles III.
