The Prime Minister will visit India this week to deepen our
long-term partnership for peace and prosperity with a fellow
leading democracy, in the face of global economic challenges and
threats from autocratic states.
The visit will begin in Ahmedabad on Thursday
[21st April] to meet with leading businesses and
discuss the UK and India’s thriving commercial, trade and people
links. This will be the first time a UK Prime Minister has
visited Gujarat, India’s fifth largest state and the ancestral
home of around half of the British-Indian population in the UK.
The Prime Minister will then travel to New Delhi to meet Prime
Minister Modi on Friday [22nd April]. The leaders
will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India’s strategic defence,
diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our
close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the
Indo-Pacific.
In Gujarat, the Prime Minister is expected to announce major
investment in key industries in both the UK and India, boosting
jobs and growth at home, as well as new collaboration on
cutting-edge science, health and technology.
He will use the visit to drive progress in the Free Trade
Agreement negotiations launched earlier this year – a deal with
India is predicted to boost our total trade by up to £28
billion annually by 2035 and increase incomes across
the UK by up to £3 billion.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Prime Minister said:
“As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic
states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together.
India, as a major economic power and the world’s largest
democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK
in these uncertain times.
“My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter
to the people of both our nations – from job creation and
economic growth, to energy security and defence.”
Last year, the Prime Minister and Prime Minister
Modi agreed a UK-India Comprehensive
Strategic Partnership last year, announcing more than
£530m in investment into the UK and committing to a deeper
bilateral relationship across trade, health, climate,
defence and security, and connecting our people.
India was identified as a priority relationship for the UK in the
2021 Integrated Review and was invited by the UK as a guest to
last year's G7 in Carbis Bay.
The UK is leveraging post-Brexit trade opportunities with India’s
growing economy to drive down prices in key commodities for
consumers, open opportunities for UK businesses in areas like
green tech and services, and create high-wage, high-skill
jobs.
Investment from Indian companies already supports 95,000 jobs
across the UK, which is expected to be boosted by upcoming
announcements and a future free trade deal.
