Keir Starmer emphasizes the UK's urgency in securing and implementing a trade deal with India promptly.

Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, has expressed his strong desire for the swift implementation of the recently signed trade deal between the United Kingdom and India, stating that he wants it implemented "as soon as humanly possible". Starmer's comments came as he embarked on a two-day visit to India accompanied by a delegation of over 120 leaders from various sectors including business, culture, and universities.

The Prime Minister is encouraging business leaders to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the UK's trade deal with India. He has brushed aside suggestions that Britain could open up more visa routes for the country. Downing Street has dubbed the trip the UK's largest ever trade mission to the country. The Prime Minister wants businesses to use the trade deal as a “launchpad for growth”, because it offers vastly reduced Indian tariffs for many UK industries.

The free trade agreement, signed in July, aims to reduce tariffs on a wide array of goods, from textiles and whisky to cars, while also increasing market access for businesses in both countries. Talks to create the trade pact concluded in May after three years of negotiations. The Prime Minister met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in London, where the pair signed the trade accord.

Starmer emphasized the significant potential of the agreement, which seeks to substantially boost bilateral trade by 2040. He told a gathering of business leaders who joined him on the trip: “Our job is to make it easier for you to seize the opportunities". He added, “On the plane home, I want each of you to tell me what you got out of this trip – a deal, a contact...This is a wonderful opportunity. Let's go out and seize it".

The Prime Minister also suggested that the agreement was already having a positive effect in boosting trade between the two nations. Starmer said that businesses would benefit significantly from the “mood music” from the trade deal, citing increases in flights by British Airways and others.

The trade deal is expected to be worth £4.8 billion each year to the UK's economy, and could add £2.2 billion collectively to wages. It is expected to raise bilateral trade by £25.5bn per year, with UK exports to India projected to grow by nearly 60%. With India set to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, and trade with them about to become quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled. India and its former colonial ruler are the world's fifth- and sixth-largest economies, with bilateral trade worth around US$54.8 billion and investments supporting more than 600,000 jobs across both countries.

During the visit, Starmer insisted that no further changes to visa restrictions would be made as a result of the trade deal, despite calls from some sectors for easier movement of workers. "No, that isn't part of the plan," he told reporters, adding the UK was "here now to take advantage of the free trade agreement that we've already struck. We've got to implement it". Starmer said he was particularly proud that the deal struck in the spring did not have a major visa component, saying it was “one of the issues we were able to unblock".

Starmer is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and address a fintech conference in Mumbai. The visit "will provide a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the United Kingdom to build a forward-looking partnership", India's foreign ministry said in a statement.


Written By
Nisha Gupta is a driven journalist, eager to make her mark in the media landscape, fueled by a passion for sports. With a strong academic background in communication and a sharp analytical mind, she excels at research. Nisha is particularly drawn to stories about technological advancements and their societal impact, aiming to deliver insightful, well-rounded reports that inform and engage her audience. Her love for sports also inspires her pursuit of objective analysis and compelling narratives.
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