Starmer leads 125-strong delegation to India in bid to ‘turbocharge’ trade

The UK person wants the commercialized mission, Britain’s largest ever to India, to physique connected a caller woody betwixt the countries.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived successful India with a sprawling delegation of starring British CEOs, entrepreneurs and assemblage vice-chancellors connected a sojourn his authorities says is intended to “turbocharge” commercialized betwixt the countries.

The two-day commercialized ngo to India, which began successful Mumbai connected Wednesday, is intended to beforehand commercialized and concern opportunities betwixt India and the UK – the world’s 5th and sixth largest economies, respectively – arsenic some countries question to realign their trading relationships successful the aftermath of stiff tariffs imposed by United States President Donald Trump’s administration.

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In August, the US slapped 50 percent tariffs connected goods from India successful effect to New Delhi’s commercialized with Russia, specifically its immense depletion of Russian oil, portion the UK, which secured a trade deal with Washington successful May, has besides been deed with tariffs, albeit astatine a overmuch little rate.

Announcing the visit, Starmer said the ngo was intended to physique connected a caller landmark commercialized deal.

“We signed a large commercialized woody with India successful July – the champion secured by immoderate state – but the communicative doesn’t halt there,” helium said successful a statement.

“It’s not conscionable a portion of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth. With India acceptable to beryllium the 3rd biggest system successful the satellite by 2028, and commercialized with them astir to go quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to beryllium seized are unparalleled.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is owed to conscionable Starmer connected Thursday earlier the leaders code a fintech league successful Mumbai, welcomed his UK counterpart successful a statement, adding that helium hoped to bolster their “shared imaginativeness of a stronger, mutually prosperous future”.

Trade betwixt the countries is worthy $54.8bn and supports much than 600,000 jobs crossed some countries, the AFP quality bureau reported.

Opportunities ‘already opening up’

Under the caller deal, India volition slash tariffs connected British goods specified arsenic whisky, cosmetics and aesculapian devices portion the UK volition chopped duties connected clothing, footwear and nutrient products, including frozen prawns, from India.

The UK authorities said successful a connection that nether existent projections, the caller commercialized woody would summation the UK’s gross home merchandise by 4.8 cardinal pounds ($6.4bn) each twelvemonth and summation UK exports to India astir 60 percent.

Starmer told the delegation that opportunities were “already opening up”, commercialized was rising sharply arsenic a effect of the woody and its members should physique connected the momentum.

After a sojourn to the Yash Raj Film workplace connected Wednesday, Starmer announced that 3 Bollywood films would beryllium made successful the UK from adjacent year.

“Bollywood is backmost successful Britain, and it’s bringing jobs, concern and opportunity, each portion showcasing the UK arsenic a world-class destination for planetary filmmaking,” helium said.

From left, Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indian histrion Rani Mukerji during a sojourn to the Yash Raj Films workplace successful Mumbai [Stefan Rousseau/Pool/AFP]

Starmer besides visited a caller English Premier League assemblage programme wherever helium met aspiring young Indian footballers and coaches, highlighting the British shot league’s popularity among Indian fans.

The UK commercialized delegation includes British Airways CEO Sean Doyle, BP CEO Murray Auchincloss and Wouter van Wersch, enforcement vice president planetary for Airbus, on with vice chancellors from 14 British universities.