British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Indian businessmen, called India an important partner

New Delhi| British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a delegation of 13 Indian companies at 10 Downing Street, his official residence in London. The British government described the meeting as a ‘streamlined initiative’ to enhance bilateral partnerships and boost investment flows.

The meeting followed Starmer’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G-20 summit last month. During the conference, the two leaders committed to pursuing an ambitious comprehensive strategic partnership with opportunities for cooperation in the fields of economic development, security and defence, technology, climate, health and education.

Indian investors and CEOs also met senior cabinet ministers to discuss employment generation and growth opportunities under the proposed India-UK trade agreement, according to a statement issued by the British High Commission in New Delhi. According to the statement, British PM Starmer has confirmed the resumption of talks on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at the beginning of the new year.

“India is an important partner for the UK and we have the ambition to seize more opportunities together, further strengthening our already strong ties”, Starmer said in reference to the business meeting. “I am delighted to welcome some of India’s senior-most business leaders to Downing Street and to underline Britain’s ambitious focus on economic growth and innovation”, he said.

The delegation, supported by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), discussed deepening ties with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The delegation was led by Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, which has completed a major investment in BT Group this year.

“This trade delegation is coming at a critical moment, as India is the fastest growing large economy and is on track to become a US$5 trillion economy by 2027”, Mittal said. Over time, India-UK relations have developed into a strong, multifaceted partnership based on historical ties, economic synergy and growing geopolitical alignment

“The negotiations on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement present important opportunities for mutual development and cooperation”, he said. We hope that this delegation will pave the way for a number of successful business collaborations. We will seek guidance from Prime Minister Starmer on areas that may have better opportunities for cooperation”

Other companies attending the meeting included Bharat Semi Systems, Biocon Group, Blue Star Limited, Essar Group, Hero Enterprise, Jet Synthesis, Piramal Group, Reliance Industries, Tata Steel, TVS Motor Company, TVS Supply Chain Solutions and UPL Limited. The delegation concluded its visit with a welcome ceremony organized by the Indian High Commission in London.