From Trade to Tech: Starmer and PM Modi reinforce India-UK strategic partnership

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday lauded India’s “remarkable” growth story and expressed confidence that the country is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028. Speaking alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a joint press conference in Mumbai, Starmer said, “It is significant that we are meeting in Mumbai as India’s economic and financial capital, because India’s growth story is remarkable. I want to congratulate the PM on his leadership, aiming to be the world’s 3rd largest economy by 2028. Your vision of Viksit Bharat is to make it a completely developed country by 2047. Everything I have seen since I have been here is absolute proof to me that you are on track to succeed in that. We want to be partners on that journey.”

Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the India-UK partnership is driven by “trustworthiness, talent, and technology,” and highlighted the synergy created by combining India’s dynamism with the UK’s expertise. He recalled the historic Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed during his July visit to the UK, stating, “With this Agreement, the import cost between the two countries will come down, new employment opportunities will be generated for the youth, trade will increase and this will benefit our industries and consumers. Your visit to India within just a few months of signing the Agreement, with the biggest business delegation ever accompanying you, is a symbol of the new vigour in India-UK partnership.”

Both leaders also stressed cooperation in education, defense, and technology. PM Modi announced that nine UK universities will open campuses in India, with the Gurugram campus of Southampton University already enrolling students. He further said, “We have signed an agreement on cooperation in military training. Under this agreement, Indian Air Force Flying Instructors will serve as trainers in the UK’s Royal Air Force.” Plans to set up an Industry Guild and Supply Chain Observatory to collaborate on critical minerals, including a satellite campus at the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad, were also unveiled.

The discussions extended to global security and stability. Starmer remarked, “We are building something here, we are creating a new modern partnership focused on the future and availing the opportunities and we are doing it together. That is why we struck the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in July, a breakthrough moment – years in the making, slashing tariffs, increasing access to each other’s markets to drive growth and create jobs for our people.” Both leaders shared views on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia, as well as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, with Modi underlining India’s support for “all efforts to restore peace through dialogue and diplomacy” and the commitment to enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Earlier, Starmer held wide-ranging interactions with business leaders, describing the India-UK trade partnership as “really important” and noting that his visit marked the “return leg” following Modi’s trip to the UK. Both leaders emphasized that the partnership, founded on shared values of democracy, freedom, and rule of law, continues to serve as a pillar of global stability and economic progress.