New Delhi: India and the UK have set themselves a target to double bilateral trade by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, after a meeting with his British counterpart Keir Starmer in Mumbai.
Modi also urged Starmer to take strong action against Khalistani extremist elements in the UK.
"Today, our bilateral trade is of the order of $56 billion. We've set a target of doubling it by 2030," Modi said at the India-UK CEO Forum. "I'm confident we can achieve the target before that."
The Prime Minister also expressed hope that the India-UK free trade pact will boost small and medium companies and help create jobs.
India and the UK also signed agreements furthering the CETA and a 350-million contract for the UK to supply missiles to India.
At the Global Fintech Festival, Modi said India was helping other countries in the development of digital technologies, besides sharing them. "This is not digital aid...there are many in the world who are interested in providing aid," he said. "For us this is not aid, but digital empowerment."
Military and Education Ties
“India and the UK are natural partners. Our relationship is built on the shared values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. In today’s time of global uncertainty, our growing partnership stands as an important pillar of global stability and economic progress,” said Modi after his talks with Starmer.
“Defence cooperation between India and the UK has strengthened, advancing toward co-production and linking the defence industries of both countries," Modi said. India and the UK have signed an agreement on military training, under which Indian Air Force flying instructors will serve as trainers with the UK’s Royal Air Force.
On the education sector, he said nine UK universities will open their campuses in India, and that the University of Southampton has already started operations here.
Maximising Potential
Starmer said India is well on track to becoming the world's third-largest economy by 2028, in what was seen as a jibe at US President Donald Trump's claim that India's economy was “dead.”
"I want to congratulate the PM on his leadership, aiming to be the world's third largest economy by 2028. Your vision of Viksit Bharat is to make it a completely developed country by 2047," said the UK PM. "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," Starmer added.
He asked industry leaders from India and the UK to list out what the governments of both countries could do to remove barriers stopping them from capitalising on opportunities.
"We want to support you to maximise the potential in relation to this trade agreement," Starmer said, adding that there has been a 6 billion pound boost in trade and investment in the three months since the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July.
The British PM, accompanied by a delegation of 125 business leaders, entrepreneurs and educationists, landed in Mumbai on Wednesday morning on a two-day visit, his first to India.
Starmer's visit came two-and-a-half months after the two countries signed the landmark trade pact, CETA, which will increase market access and cut tariffs. The trade deal was firmed up during PM Modi's visit to London in July.
No Violence in Democracy
Later, briefing reporters, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the issue of Khalistani activities was discussed during Modi’s meeting with Starmer, and that India reiterated its serious concerns over the activities of such groups abroad.
“The Prime Minister emphasised that radicalism and violent extremism have no place in democratic societies and should not be allowed to misuse the freedoms these societies provide," Misri said. “There is a need to act against such elements strictly within the legal frameworks available to both sides."
Misri said the matter had previously been raised in discussions between the two leaders in July and was flagged again during Thursday’s talks. He said both sides agreed on the importance of mutual cooperation and respect for legal processes in dealing with extremist activities that threaten social harmony and public safety.
Modi also urged Starmer to take strong action against Khalistani extremist elements in the UK.
"Today, our bilateral trade is of the order of $56 billion. We've set a target of doubling it by 2030," Modi said at the India-UK CEO Forum. "I'm confident we can achieve the target before that."
The Prime Minister also expressed hope that the India-UK free trade pact will boost small and medium companies and help create jobs.
India and the UK also signed agreements furthering the CETA and a 350-million contract for the UK to supply missiles to India.
At the Global Fintech Festival, Modi said India was helping other countries in the development of digital technologies, besides sharing them. "This is not digital aid...there are many in the world who are interested in providing aid," he said. "For us this is not aid, but digital empowerment."
Military and Education Ties
“India and the UK are natural partners. Our relationship is built on the shared values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. In today’s time of global uncertainty, our growing partnership stands as an important pillar of global stability and economic progress,” said Modi after his talks with Starmer.
“Defence cooperation between India and the UK has strengthened, advancing toward co-production and linking the defence industries of both countries," Modi said. India and the UK have signed an agreement on military training, under which Indian Air Force flying instructors will serve as trainers with the UK’s Royal Air Force.
On the education sector, he said nine UK universities will open their campuses in India, and that the University of Southampton has already started operations here.
Maximising Potential
Starmer said India is well on track to becoming the world's third-largest economy by 2028, in what was seen as a jibe at US President Donald Trump's claim that India's economy was “dead.”
"I want to congratulate the PM on his leadership, aiming to be the world's third largest economy by 2028. Your vision of Viksit Bharat is to make it a completely developed country by 2047," said the UK PM. "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," Starmer added.
He asked industry leaders from India and the UK to list out what the governments of both countries could do to remove barriers stopping them from capitalising on opportunities.
"We want to support you to maximise the potential in relation to this trade agreement," Starmer said, adding that there has been a 6 billion pound boost in trade and investment in the three months since the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July.
The British PM, accompanied by a delegation of 125 business leaders, entrepreneurs and educationists, landed in Mumbai on Wednesday morning on a two-day visit, his first to India.
Starmer's visit came two-and-a-half months after the two countries signed the landmark trade pact, CETA, which will increase market access and cut tariffs. The trade deal was firmed up during PM Modi's visit to London in July.
No Violence in Democracy
Later, briefing reporters, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the issue of Khalistani activities was discussed during Modi’s meeting with Starmer, and that India reiterated its serious concerns over the activities of such groups abroad.
“The Prime Minister emphasised that radicalism and violent extremism have no place in democratic societies and should not be allowed to misuse the freedoms these societies provide," Misri said. “There is a need to act against such elements strictly within the legal frameworks available to both sides."
Misri said the matter had previously been raised in discussions between the two leaders in July and was flagged again during Thursday’s talks. He said both sides agreed on the importance of mutual cooperation and respect for legal processes in dealing with extremist activities that threaten social harmony and public safety.
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