PM Modi and UK PM Starmer Meet to Boost Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Mumbai today to discuss the progress of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the Vision 2035 roadmap. Starmer, who arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday, is on his first official visit to India, accompanied by a large trade delegation of 125 business leaders and university vice chancellors from the UK.

The meeting will focus on various sectors including trade, investment, technology, defence, climate, and education. Both leaders will also participate in the CEO Forum and the Global Fintech Fest, where they will engage with industry experts and policymakers. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that the discussions will review advancements in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is a key element of the evolving economic partnership between India and the UK.

In a welcoming message, PM Modi described Starmer's visit as historic and expressed eagerness for their discussions. The leaders aim to strengthen ties and explore opportunities for collaboration, particularly in technology and financial services. They will also address regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The meeting builds on the momentum from PM Modi's visit to the UK in July, where both leaders welcomed the signing of CETA, which is expected to significantly enhance bilateral trade and investment. The agreement aims to increase trade by £25.5 billion ($34 billion) by 2040, cutting tariffs on various goods and improving market access.

Additionally, the leaders will discuss the Defence Industrial Roadmap, which focuses on co-designing and co-producing defence products to meet the demands of both nations and the global market. The ongoing collaboration between the armed forces of India and the UK will also be a point of discussion, reflecting the strengthening defence and security partnership between the two countries.