INDIA: British PM Keir Starmer Arrives in India with 100-Member Delegation, to Meet PM Modi

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai this morning for a two-day visit, marking his first trip to India since becoming Prime Minister. He's accompanied by a large delegation of over 100 individuals representing business, culture, and other key sectors, with the primary objective of reinforcing the strategic relationship between India and the UK.

PM Modi and Starmer's Meeting

PM Modi is scheduled to meet Keir Starmer in Mumbai on October 9th. Their discussions will focus on accelerating the development of the partnership under 'Vision 2030'. This visit follows PM Modi's trip to the UK in August this year, where he and Starmer signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The FTA aims to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030, facilitating easier access for Indian products like textiles and agricultural goods in the UK, and benefiting British whisky and car exports to India.

Key Areas of Discussion

Starmer's agenda in India includes four crucial areas: boosting trade and investment, particularly through the recently signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA); enhancing cooperation in technology and innovation, covering fintech, AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity; strengthening defense and security ties, with a focus on counter-terrorism and addressing Khalistani activities; and fostering deeper collaboration in climate change, energy, health, education, and people-to-people connections. In Mumbai, Starmer is also expected to participate in a football event, visit Yash Raj Studios, and meet with prominent industrialists, followed by a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the evening.

Global Fintech Fest and Bengaluru Visit

Both Prime Ministers will attend the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai, a major global event running from October 7th to 9th, with a focus on strengthening AI-operated finance. This event is expected to draw over 100,000 participants from 75+ countries. Following Mumbai, Keir Starmer will proceed to Bengaluru, India's technology hub, to engage in discussions on investment and technology. A key objective will be to accelerate the India-UK Technology Security Initiative (TSI), which encompasses sectors like AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology, while starmer will meet with tech companies and startups to encourage British investment and explore new opportunities for collaboration.