UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, October 9, started the first day of his two-day visit to India, reaffirming his government’s commitment to deepening trade, investment, and strategic ties between the two countries.
Accompanied by the largest-ever UK trade delegation to India, Starmer held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, focusing on economic cooperation, defence, and emerging technologies.
After the meeting at Raj Bhavan, Starmer said that the partnership between India and the United Kingdom was ideally placed to achieve the ambitious Vision 2035 roadmap.
“We signed a major trade deal with India in July — the best secured by any country — but the story doesn’t stop there. It’s not just a piece of paper; it’s a launchpad for growth. This partnership today, we’re turbocharging trade and investment flows, with opportunities in AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, critical minerals, and more,” he said.
🇮🇳-🇬🇧| Reinforcing our shared commitment to a strong & enduring partnership for the benefit of our two peoples.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 9, 2025
PM @narendramodi and PM @Keir_Starmer of UK held extensive talks in Mumbai today.
Both sides reviewed the 🇮🇳-🇬🇧 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and identified new… pic.twitter.com/pIFSxEEGOV
The landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in July, is expected to boost bilateral trade by 25.5 billion GBP annually and lift the UK’s GDP by 4.8 billion GBP. Starmer noted that the deal would also generate thousands of jobs and significantly increase UK exports, particularly in Scotch whisky, which could reach 1 billion GBP a year to India alone. He added that shared values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law formed the foundation of India-UK relations.
Starmer highlighted that his visit was accompanied by a 125-member delegation of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and educationists, underlining the growing economic partnership between the two nations. The British Prime Minister also attended the Global Fintech Fest 2025 alongside Prime Minister Modi, where both leaders emphasised collaboration in financial technology and innovation.
He welcomed the recent Gaza peace deal and expressed support for reforming the United Nations Security Council to make it more representative, reiterating his backing for India’s inclusion as a permanent member.
Addressing the joint press meet with UK PM @Keir_Starmer. https://t.co/jY20THk1kv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2025
Prime Minister Modi described the India-UK relationship as one grounded in shared democratic values and said it was emerging as an important pillar for global stability and progress. He said both sides had agreed to strengthen cooperation in defence, including joint training initiatives, and committed to enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. Modi added that India continued to support all peace efforts through dialogue and diplomacy in global conflicts such as Ukraine and Gaza.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also met Starmer during the visit, calling the meeting a step forward in advancing mutual economic interests. “Delighted to call on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Discussed avenues to further deepen India-UK trade and economic partnership for mutual prosperity,” Goyal wrote on X.
Goyal earlier met UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle to review the implementation of the CETA and discuss the plan to double bilateral trade by 2030. The two ministers agreed to reposition the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to oversee the trade agreement’s operationalisation and delivery.
Starmer’s visit came two and a half months after India and the UK signed the landmark free trade pact during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to London, setting the stage for a new chapter in the economic and strategic partnership between the two nations.
