UK PM Starmer visits India to build business ties after clinching trade deal

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer begins a two-day go to to India on Wednesday, joined by over 100 leaders from the business, tradition and college sectors in an effort to promote a lately signed trade deal.

Britain and India signed a free trade settlement in July throughout a go to by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sealing a deal to reduce tariffs on items from textiles to whisky and automobiles, and permit extra market entry for companies.

Talks on the trade pact had been concluded in May after three years of stop-start negotiations, with each side hastening efforts to clinch a deal within the shadow of tariff turmoil unleashed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The deal between the world’s fifth- and sixth-largest economies goals to improve bilateral trade by an extra 25.5 billion kilos ($34 billion) by 2040.

But the federal government has mentioned that the projections had been a flooring, not a ceiling, to the ambition of the deal, and the go to with executives from the likes of oil main BP, engine maker Rolls-Royce, telecom agency BT, was aimed toward maximising Britain’s greatest post-Brexit trade deal.

“It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth,” Starmer mentioned, including that India was projected to be the third-biggest economic system on the planet by 2028. “The opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled.”

Starmer will maintain bilateral talks with Modi on Thursday. Both sides have mentioned they’re wanting to ratify the deal and convey it into impact inside the subsequent 12 months.

Growth is considered one of Starmer’s key priorities as he tries to reverse a slide within the polls, with a November fiscal price range anticipated to present a difficult fiscal image.

British Airways, owned by IAG, mentioned it might add a 3rd day by day flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Delhi in 2026, whereas Manchester Airport additionally mentioned it might add a Delhi route, operated by IndiGo.

The journey additionally options representatives from drinks maker Diageo and the Scotch Whisky Association, with the UK-India trade deal set to reduce whisky tariffs confronted by UK companies to 75% from 150%, earlier than lowering them to 40% over the following decade.

The business has been lobbying the UK authorities to cut back U.S. tariffs after a deal between the international locations didn’t cowl whisky.