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Sir keir starmer The biggest work has started so far British for trade missions IndiaWhere he is promoting the recently signed agreement with the country as a “launchpad for development”.
Prime Minister The visit to Mumbai included 125 chief executives, university leaders and representatives of British cultural institutions.
UK-India trade deal signed by PM and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi In July Checkers reduced tariffs on British businesses from an average of 15% to 3%.
During his visit to the South Asian country, Sir Keir wants to promote the business opportunities opened up for British brands as a result of the deal.
As he departed, Sir Keir said: “We signed a major trade deal with India in July – the best secured by any country – but the story doesn’t stop there.
“This is not just a piece of paper, it is a launchpad for growth. India is going to be the world’s third largest economy by 2028, and doing business with them is going to be faster and cheaper, so the opportunity waiting to be presented is unparalleled.”
Business leaders joining Sir Keir include representatives from Rolls-Royce, British Telecom, Diageo, the London Stock Exchange and British Airways.
The Prime Minister said: “That’s why I’ll be flying the flag for British business alongside 125 of our biggest household names in Mumbai this week – because for them, growth in India means more choice, opportunity and jobs for British people at home.”
As Sir Keir left Britain, journalists traveling with him asked him about Mr Modi’s close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite efforts by Western countries to boycott Russia’s war machine, India continues to buy oil from Moscow.
Mr Modi also wished the Russian leader on his birthday in a post on social media on Tuesday.
Sir Keir told reporters: “Just for the record, I have not sent Putin a birthday wish, nor am I going to do so.
“I don’t think it’s any surprise in terms of energy and in terms of reining in Russian energy. Our focus as the UK, and we’ve been leading on this, is on the shadow fleet, because we think that’s the most effective way.
“We have been one of the leading countries in relation to shadow fleets, working with other countries.”
The UK-India trade agreement is expected to contribute £4.8 billion to the UK economy every year, and could collectively add £2.2 billion to wages.
Those most likely to benefit from the deal include Scottish whiskey producers, whose tariffs will fall from 150% to 75%, and then to 40% over the next 10 years.
New air connectivity between the UK and India has been announced ahead of the visit.
British Airways has revealed that it will run a third daily flight between Delhi and Heathrow from 2026.
Elsewhere, Manchester Airport will launch a direct route to Delhi operated by IndiGo, adding to its existing Mumbai service.
The new service will make Manchester the only UK airport outside London to link both cities.
It is estimated that the expansion will generate annual exports of £50 million, tourism income of £25 million and could create 450 jobs in the UK.
Trade Secretary Peter Kyle, who is traveling to India with the delegation, said: “We have shown that our ambition to grow trade with India knows no limits – in less than a year we have gone from restarting talks on a deal to bringing 125 talented business leaders to its commercial capital.
“Our deal is the best deal ever achieved by any country with India and puts British businesses at the forefront of access to a huge and ever-growing market.
“We are now moving fast and using every tool necessary to prepare businesses to take full advantage of the huge win we have won once the deal is implemented so we can deliver growth, jobs and prosperity at home.”
The delegation includes 14 university vice-chancellors and representatives, who will promote UK universities amid the growing demand for higher education in India.
Cultural institutions including the British Film Institute and the National Theater will also participate, with the aim of opening doors to new UK-India media and cultural exchanges.
The Prime Minister also faces calls to raise the case of a British national detained abroad with his Indian counterpart Mr Modi during the visit.
Jagtar Singh Johal, a 38-year-old Sikh activist from Dumbarton, near Glasgow, has been detained by Indian authorities since November 2017.
The British Sikh has claimed to be a victim of torture, and his imprisonment was recognized as arbitrary detention by a UN panel in 2022.
He was acquitted earlier this year in a case in which he was accused of financially supporting a terrorist group, but he still faces federal charges from Indian authorities.
His elder brother said the Prime Minister should press for Mr Johal’s release in the wake of several similar high-profile cases.
Gurpreet Singh Johal told the PA news agency: “I think the Prime Minister is the most appropriate person to strongly advocate for Jagtar’s release, because no evidence has been presented in eight years.”
He said: “Keir Starmer must say enough is enough, and bring Jagtar back home.”
The Prime Minister last raised Mr Johal’s issue with his Indian counterpart when Mr Modi visited Britain in July.
Dan Dolan, deputy director of Reprieve, a legal action campaign group that supports Mr Johal’s family, said “diplomacy at the highest levels” could make a difference in his case.