Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, said on Tuesday that the Keir Starmer government is ready to continue negotiations with India and that the Free Trade Agreement is an “ongoing process,” having concluded an internal review in July. Following a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the G20 Summit in Brazil, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the resumption of FTA negotiations between the UK and India in 2025. Doraiswami stated, “The FTA is a continuing process. The UK administration, which took power in July, has concluded its internal examination and is now ready to resume negotiations. We welcome this. Let us not prejudge what occurs in the negotiations since they are going to restart. Let us see what happens after that. He acknowledged the increase in bilateral trade between the two countries and expressed optimism about the result of the negotiations. “The movement of products and services between us continues to rise, and our investments remain considerable in each other’s economies,” he stated. Earlier on November 22, Richard Heald, Chair of the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC), stated that the FTA between India and the UK had revolutionary potential for businesses and bilateral commerce. He stated that the FTA will make a difference by making travel between the two countries more convenient. “If you look at companies that are not in India, the FTA will make a difference.The FTA would make it simpler and more reassuring to travel to India and integrate into the economy, whether directly through investment or through a joint venture,” he stated. Speaking further about Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s trip to the UK to solicit investments for the state, Doraiswami conveyed his joy and emphasized the unique bond between the two countries. “We believe this is a significant opportunity, so we are delighted the Chief Minister chose to come to the UK for his first out-of-state visit in his current role. The relationship between the UK and India is extremely unique. It has a lengthy past. It has long contributed to the growth of both countries, and those of Indian descent have undoubtedly played a significant part in tying the two countries and their economies together,” he said. “The Chief Minister’s main focus has been on attempting to investigate how Madhya Pradesh’s growing potential may complement the UK’s strengths. He continued, “These are mostly focused on the UK’s strengths in areas like education, technology, and the IT industry in particular. Notably, CM Mohan Yadav is traveling to Germany and the United Kingdom for six days with the goal of luring investments by meeting with business executives, government officials, and industrialists in both countries.
Starmer government agrees to renegotiate Free Trade Agreement : Vikram Doraiswami
