India-U.K. FTA negotiations to resume in 2025

India and the United Kingdom have agreed to relaunch trade talks early next year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was the first meeting between the two prime ministers.

Both leaders agreed to take forward an ambitious UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to take the relationship to new heights in trade and investment, security and defence, technology, climate, health and education. They underlined the importance of resuming the free trade agreement negotiations at an early date and expressed confidence in the ability of the negotiating teams, to address the remaining issues to mutual satisfaction, leading to a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward-looking FTA. Starmer said the negotiations for an India-UK free trade pact will be relaunched in the new year.

PM Modi also noted the importance of addressing the issue of economic offenders from India in the UK.

India will open two new consulates in Belfast and Manchester in the UK, PM Modi announced in the first meeting with his British counterpart Keir Starmer.

Expressing satisfaction at the progress in the bilateral relationship, the two prime ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with a focus on economy, trade, new and emerging technologies, research and innovation, green finance and people-to-people contacts. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including on international and regional issues of significance.

Recognising the ample opportunities for further engagement between the two sides in the light of growing bilateral economic and business relations and with a view to better serve the consular requirements of the Indian community in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Modi announced the establishment of two new Consulates General of India in the United Kingdom in Belfast and Manchester.

The two leaders also agreed on the need to make progress on issues related to migration and mobility. The two leaders directed their ministers and senior officials to work towards faster implementation of the various understandings that form part of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also looked forward to more frequent dialogue and discussions.

PM Modi also met with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advance the India-France Strategic Partnership as well as their shared vision for bilateral cooperation and international partnership, outlined in the Horizon 2047 roadmap.