UK and India to cement strategic ties with new free trade agreement and deeper cooperation across defence, technology and climate
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make his first official visit to India on 8–9 October at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a trip set to reinforce Britain’s partnership with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and to mark the implementation of a landmark trade agreement.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi confirmed on Saturday that the two leaders will meet in Mumbai on 9 October to review progress under the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a framework guided by “Vision 2035”, which sets out a ten-year roadmap for bilateral cooperation. The agenda spans trade and investment, defence and security, climate and energy, technology and innovation, health, education, and cultural ties.
The visit comes at a pivotal moment, as both governments seek to deepen economic engagement through the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), now a central pillar of the future India–UK relationship. Officials said the two prime ministers will engage directly with industry leaders and business representatives to highlight opportunities under the pact.
The highlight of the visit will be the formalisation of the India–UK free trade agreement, signed in the presence of both leaders and officially concluded by India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. The deal has been described as the most ambitious bilateral trade pact signed by either country in recent years, offering virtually tariff-free access on 99 per cent of goods traded between India and Britain.
The agreement is expected to deliver major benefits across several industries, particularly India’s labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather goods, and gems and jewellery. For Britain, the pact opens the door for greater market access in financial services, technology, pharmaceuticals, and education.
Notably, CETA has been heralded as a breakthrough for India’s marine exports, with the elimination of UK import tariffs on a wide range of seafood products. Indian exporters of shrimp, squid, lobsters, pomfret and black tiger prawns are expected to gain significant ground in the British market. Vannamei shrimp, already one of India’s leading seafood exports, is likely to consolidate its position, while value-added frozen fish and seafood products will enjoy duty-free entry.
According to the MEA, “all fish and fisheries commodities falling under UK tariff schedule categories marked ‘A’ will now enjoy 100 per cent duty-free access from the date of entry into force of the agreement.” Industry analysts believe this move will give Indian exporters a competitive edge in one of their most lucrative overseas markets.
Beyond trade, Starmer and Modi will use the visit to discuss regional and global issues. Officials in both capitals have signalled that security in the Indo-Pacific, counter-terrorism, and climate change will be high on the agenda.
The leaders are also expected to underline the importance of cooperation in defence and innovation, areas where both nations are looking to expand joint projects. Britain, which has been repositioning its foreign policy post-Brexit, views India as a key partner in its “Indo-Pacific tilt”, while New Delhi is keen to leverage UK expertise in cutting-edge technologies and sustainable energy.
Starmer and Modi will also attend the sixth edition of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, where they are scheduled to deliver keynote speeches and interact with policymakers, industry experts and innovators. The event is intended to showcase opportunities for collaboration in digital finance, artificial intelligence, and emerging tech—sectors that align with India’s drive towards a digital economy and Britain’s fintech strengths.
The visit follows Prime Minister Modi’s trip to London in July, which injected new momentum into bilateral relations. At that meeting, both governments reaffirmed their ambition to double trade by 2030 and committed to a series of joint initiatives in clean energy, higher education, and health technology.
The MEA described Starmer’s upcoming visit as “a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the United Kingdom to build a forward-looking partnership”. For Starmer, the trip also carries symbolic weight as his first official engagement in India since taking office, underscoring his government’s intention to place relations with New Delhi high on its foreign policy agenda.
Observers note that Starmer’s outreach to India reflects both economic pragmatism and strategic necessity. Britain, navigating sluggish domestic growth and the challenges of a post-Brexit trade landscape, sees India as a vital partner in diversifying markets and securing new investment flows. For India, closer ties with the UK not only offer economic benefits but also strengthen its standing as a global player at a time of shifting geopolitical alignments.
Business leaders on both sides have welcomed the pact, with expectations that smoother trade conditions will encourage greater investment and joint ventures. Education and research partnerships are also tipped to expand, with Indian universities and British institutions eyeing new collaborations.
While challenges remain—not least in ensuring smooth implementation of the agreement and managing regulatory hurdles—the overall mood surrounding the visit is one of optimism. As one senior Indian official put it, “This is about more than trade; it is about shaping a partnership fit for the future.”
With both nations keen to showcase a pragmatic and forward-looking relationship, Starmer’s two-day visit may well set the tone for a new chapter in India–UK ties—one that blends economic ambition with a shared commitment to tackling global challenges.
