British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in India on Wednesday on his first visit to the country, accompanied by a delegation of more than 100 representatives from the business, culture, and other sectors.
Starmer, on a two-day visit, was received in Mumbai by Acharya Devvrat, the Governor of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Mumbai on October 8–9, where he will meet his British counterpart to review progress under the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aligned with the ‘Vision 2035’ framework.
The Vision 2035 roadmap outlines a ten-year plan to strengthen cooperation in key areas including trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education, and people-to-people ties.
During the visit, both leaders will also interact with industry leaders and business executives to explore opportunities within the proposed India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) — seen as a cornerstone of the future bilateral economic partnership, according to an official statement.
The two prime ministers are expected to discuss regional and global issues, along with expanding collaboration in innovation, digital finance, and sustainability.
Modi and Starmer will jointly participate in the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025 at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai, where they will deliver keynote addresses.
The Global Fintech Fest 2025, themed “Empowering Finance for a Better World – Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion,” aims to highlight the intersection of technology and human insight in building a sustainable financial future.
The event is expected to draw over 100,000 participants from more than 75 countries, featuring 7,500 companies, 800 speakers, 400 exhibitors, and 70 regulators from India and abroad.
Prominent international participants include the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Deutsche Bundesbank (Germany), Banque de France, and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) — underscoring the growing stature of the Global Fintech Fest as a leading platform for global financial policy dialogue and cooperation.
