British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in India for a two-day official visit, his first trip to the country since taking office. Starmer was warmly received at the Mumbai airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
At the heart of Starmer’s visit lies the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with both sides expected to push forward on key negotiations aimed at enhancing bilateral trade and investment. The British Prime Minister is set to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar later today to discuss the future roadmap for economic cooperation and strategic ties.
The two nations had earlier signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK. The pact was formalized by Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and British Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds, opening new avenues for trade growth.
The landmark deal is projected to elevate bilateral trade to around USD 34 billion, granting 99% of Indian exports duty-free access to the UK market, while significantly reducing tariffs on British imports to India. The visit is expected to reinforce the long-standing India–UK partnership, setting the stage for a new era of economic and diplomatic collaboration.
