UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai early on Wednesday for a two-day visit, leading a 125-member delegation of CEOs, investors, and representatives from British institutions, universities, and industry groups.
The trip, described by No.10 Downing Street as a “two-day trade mission to Mumbai,” marks Starmer’s first visit to India as prime minister and comes just months after India and the UK signed a landmark trade deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July visit to London.
The timing of the visit is significant, as both nations are recalibrating their positions amid shifting global trade dynamics and their respective relationships with the US under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Accompanying Starmer are UK Minister for Trade and Business Peter Kyle and Investment Minister Jason Stockwood.
Trade deal seen as “launchpad for growth”
Speaking about the recently concluded Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Starmer said, “It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth.”
The agreement has been positioned as a major step in revitalising trade and investment between the two economies.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Thursday’s discussions will address both bilateral and regional issues, with a focus on strengthening cooperation under the Technology Security Initiative launched in July 2024.
The leaders are also expected to review progress under the “Vision 2035” roadmap — a ten-year plan designed to guide collaboration in areas such as trade, climate action, education, and technology.
Resetting bilateral relations
The visit represents the latest stage in a broader reset of India-UK relations.
Since Starmer assumed leadership of the Labour Party in 2020, he has sought to rebuild ties that were strained under previous Labour leadership due to positions taken on India, Pakistan, and Kashmir.
For New Delhi, one long-standing concern has been security risks to Indian assets and personnel in the UK from Khalistani separatist elements operating there.
The July trade deal and adoption of Vision 2035 were seen as key milestones in reaffirming mutual trust and creating a more pragmatic framework for engagement between the two governments.
Focus on business, fintech and migration
On Thursday, both Modi and Starmer are scheduled to deliver keynote addresses at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, where they will also meet business leaders to explore investment opportunities in digital finance and innovation.
Under the trade agreement, the UK has eliminated tariffs on 99% of products, though this covers only about 45% (or $6.5 billion) of Indian exports to the UK, according to estimates from the Global Trade Initiative.
The affected categories include textiles, footwear, seafood, and automobiles.
The visit comes as Starmer’s Labour government grapples with domestic economic headwinds, including low productivity, rising public debt, and sluggish growth.
His administration has also tightened immigration controls, limiting the inflow of skilled and documented workers into the UK, a move influenced by anti-migrant pressures from the Conservative and Reform UK parties.
Despite these restrictions, India remains the leading source of skilled worker visas to the UK, underscoring the continued interdependence between the two economies.
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