India and the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday announced the conclusion of talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) that will boost strategic and economic ties between the countries.
The India-UK Free Trade Agreement is not only a pivotal milestone in ties between the two nations but is also poised to be the gateway to an era of flourishing bilateral cooperation, shared innovation and enhanced people-to-people connect, Sunil Bharti Mittal said on Tuesday. The Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman also noted that India and the UK represent a burgeoning wealth of ideas, talents and resources. India and the UK on Tuesday sealed a landmark free trade agreement that will lower tariffs on 99 per cent of Indian exports and would make it easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India, besides boosting the overall trade basket. Along with the FTA -- the biggest the UK has done since leaving the European Union -- the two sides also sealed a double contribution convention. In a statement on the successful conclusion of the India-UK FTA negotiations, Mittal said, "This is not only a pivotal milestone in the history of the relations between ou
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The free trade agreement (FTA) concluded between India and the UK is a "game changer" and is the most comprehensive trade deal ever entered into by India, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Tuesday. He said that the pact will set India further on the path of rapid economic growth and benefit the country's global integration. "This is the most comprehensive free trade deal ever entered into by India and will be the gold standard for our future engagements," he said. Barthwal told PTI that the agreement will have a positive impact on the country's manufacturing across labour and technology intensive sectors. "It opens up export opportunities for sectors such as textiles, marine products, leather, footwear, sports goods and toys, gems and jewellery," he said. Commenting on the pact, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said that this agreement sets a new benchmark for equitable and ambitious trade between two large economies. "It will benefit Indian farmers, fishermen, workers,
On April 28, Piyush Goyal met with the UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, to advance negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations
Goyal returned to London for the talks, a British government spokesperson said, after a two-day visit earlier in the week ended without a final agreement
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who is in London on a two-day visit focused on bilateral trade and investment ties, addressed an India-UK Business Roundtable bringing together prominent business leaders and CEOs from both countries on Tuesday. The roundtable heard from the minister about the wide-ranging investment opportunities across sectors in India and the potential for innovation-led growth with greater two-way partnerships. Highlighted opportunities to strengthen economic ties, drive innovation-led growth, and expand investment avenues between India and the UK, Goyal said after the roundtable. It follows his interactions on Monday with a range of senior business leaders to explore the potential for greater collaborations with the UK. After a meeting with UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to advance the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, Goyal held talks with Revolut Chair Martin Gilbert with a fintech focus and De Beers Group CEO Al
Government officials said that the trade deal talks between India and the UK are inching towards conclusion
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has chaired an India-UK Investor Roundtable in London, attracting around 60 UK investors representing various pension funds, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions. According to the Ministry of Finance, the high-level roundtable on Tuesday evening outlined the priorities of the government for enabling sustained economic growth and investment opportunities, with the policy support that is shaping "New India". It highlighted the efforts being made by the ministry to pursue process and governance reforms to reduce compliance burden and ease regulation for facilitating an enabling environment for business and investments. India offers a compelling growth opportunity for foreign banks and the government of India is actively encouraging foreign investment in the banking sector, Sitharaman told the gathering. With an expanding middle class and strong and stable policy environment, the Union Finance Minister said that India is set to
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday inaugurated a new Consulate General of India in Manchester, which he said was symbolic of the importance of the growing diaspora in the region and a sign of things to come, including an India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The external affairs minister (EAM) said it was apt that Vishakha Yaduvanshi takes over her role as India's newest Consul General on International Women's Day, reflective of the strides the government has made in putting women's issues at the centre of policy. He followed up the official opening of the consulate building in Stockport, Greater Manchester, with a celebratory diaspora reception at the Old Trafford stadium, where he interacted with members of the Lancashire Cricket Club's women's team members before they leave for Bengaluru for a pre-season tour next week. My first visit to Manchester here today, in a formal way, is an acknowledgement of how much this relationship has matured in the last four decades,
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor posted a selfie with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and the UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds on Tuesday, and said the revival of long-stalled India-UK FTA negotiations was most welcome. "Good to exchange words with Jonathan Reynolds, Britain's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in the company of his Indian counterpart, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal," he said of their meeting at an event on Monday. "The long-stalled FTA (Free Trade Agreement) negotiations have been revived, which is most welcome," Tharoor said on X. Tharoor's post created a buzz among political circles as it comes amid a row over his recent article in a newspaper that drew criticism from some Congress leaders in Kerala for his perceived praise of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state for boosting the investment climate. Tharoor's article in an English-language daily, praising the ...
After a gap of over eight months, India and the UK will resume negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) here from February 24, an official said. UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds will be here for resumption of the talks. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the official said. The India-UK FTA negotiations were launched on January 13, 2022. Total 13 rounds of negotiations have been held till December 2023. The 14th round, which began on January 10, 2024, was underway when negotiations were paused by the UK side in May 2024 due to elections in that country. The talks would resume the discussions from the progress achieved previously and seek to bridge the gaps for expeditiously closing the trade deal, the official added. The agreement is aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investments. In such pacts, two countries either eliminate or significantly reduce customs duties on maximum goods trad
In the nine months to October, HSBC's UK unit received 36 per cent more business client referrals from its arm in India
India and the UK are expected to hold the next round of talks for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) in January to resolve the pending issues and close the negotiations, a senior official said on Thursday. The talks for the proposed FTA began in January 2022. The 14th round of talks stalled as the two nations stepped into their general election cycles. In November, an official statement said that the dates for the FTA talks in early 2025 would be finalised through diplomatic channels. The negotiations would resume the discussions from the progress achieved previously and seek to bridge the gaps for expeditiously closing the trade deal. The next round of talks is likely to start at January-end, the official said. The Indian industry is demanding greater access for its skilled professionals from sectors like IT and healthcare in the UK market, besides market access for several goods at nil customs duty. On the other hand, the UK is seeking a significant cut in import duties on g
India and the UK are set to relaunch free trade agreement talks next month under Keir Starmer's Labour Party, facing critical challenges including unresolved issues and shifting political priorities
Issues like labour, environment remain tricky as talks may begin in Jan
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being negotiated between India and the UK is in the final stages with both sides within finger-touching distance to clinch an agreement, NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam said here on Wednesday. The FTA, negotiations for which were launched in January 2022 before being stalled due to general elections in both countries, is aimed at significantly enhancing the estimated GBP 38.1 billion a year bilateral trading partnership. During the signing ceremony for the new UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB) agreement, both sides were keen to stress that the bilateral partnership is not being held hostage to the FTA even as the newly elected governments on both sides remain committed to it. "I think this is a deal that is in the last slab. The two sides I would say are not even at hand-shaking distance, the fingers are touching. It's just a question of that extra five inches and you can grab the deal, Subrahmanyam said while addressing a panel ...
Reiterating the UK Foreign Secretary's statement, he noted that David Lammy sees FTA as a "floor" for both countries' trade and investment relationship
India remains committed to elevating its ties with the UK and welcomes the desire to conclude a mutually beneficial free trade pact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met him on Wednesday. In a post on 'X', Modi also appreciated the priority accorded by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to broaden and deepen the India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. Lammy is on a two-day visit to India to galvanise negotiations for the trade pact and reset the overall bilateral partnership in crucial areas such as clean energy, new technologies and security. The British foreign secretary's visit to New Delhi is the first high-level engagement between India and the UK after Prime Minister Starmer's Labour government came to power on July 5. "A pleasure to meet UK FS @DavidLammy. Appreciate the priority accorded by PM @Keir_Starmer to broaden and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Modi said. "Remain committed to elevating the ties.