PM RISHI SUNAK OF BRITAIN PLEDGES TO GO FORWARD WITH THE UK-INDIA FTA AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE

Prime Minister Rishi Saunak stated that the UK government is working hard to bring the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks with India to a successful end. At the end of October of last year, the majority of the substantive negotiations were wrapped up. The new British Prime Minister provided an update to parliament during the house of commons session at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, during his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after taking office at 10 Downing Street.

He reaffirmed the UK government’s position following the FTA’s missed Diwali deadline, stating he would not forgo quality for expediency since it is crucial to take time to craft successful trade agreements. According to a press release from the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday, the two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the current level of the extensive India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership development on the Roadmap 2030 for Future Relations during their initial meeting in Bali.

They talked about how crucial it is to cooperate in both bilateral and multilateral settings, such as the G20 and the Commonwealth. They discussed a variety of crucial areas of cooperation, including commerce, mobility, defence, and security. Saunak also unveiled the mobility program that allows young people from India to come here and young Brits to travel there as the two countries’ ties and partnership grow.

Saunak said the exchanges will foster positivity for both nations. He alluded to the new UK-India Young Professionals Scheme established at the summit earlier this week, including 3,000 new reciprocal visa offers annually for under-30s branded as “excellent for both Indian students and British students who wish to move back-and-forth.”