The Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, confirmed on Tuesday that the UK government, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, is prepared to resume negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. This follows the completion of the UK’s internal review process in July.
"The FTA is an ongoing process," Doraiswami said. "The government that came to power here in the UK in July completed their internal review and is now ready to restart negotiations. We welcome that. Let’s not prejudge what happens in the negotiations because they need to restart. Let’s see what happens beyond that."
Doraiswami highlighted the increasing trade between the two nations and expressed optimism about the negotiations. "The movement of goods and services between us continues to grow, and our investments remain significant in each other’s economies," he added.
The Free Trade Agreement is seen as having transformative potential for businesses and trade relations. On November 22, Richard Heald, Chair of the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC), pointed out that the FTA would simplify business operations and strengthen economic ties. "The agreement will make it easier and more reassuring to enter India and integrate into the economy, whether through joint ventures or direct investment," Heald said.
Doraiswami also spoke about the recent visit of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to the UK, aimed at attracting investments to the state. "We’re very glad that the chief minister chose the UK for his first visit outside the state in his current capacity," Doraiswami said, emphasizing the importance of the strong India-UK relationship. He also noted that the role of people of Indian origin has been a key factor in strengthening the economic ties between the two countries.
Doraiswami highlighted that the chief minister’s visit focused on aligning the UK’s strengths with the emerging opportunities in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in sectors like education, technology, and IT.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is currently on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom and Germany, engaging with industrialists, business leaders, and government officials to promote investments in the state.
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