UK PM Starmer Visits Mumbai to Boost India-UK Trade Partnership

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed in Mumbai on Wednesday for a two-day visit, months after India and the UK signed a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) following years of negotiations. He is accompanied by a 125-member delegation, including top business leaders such as British Airways CEO Sean Doyle.

Key Meetings and Agenda

During his trip, Starmer will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and address the Global Fintech Fest alongside him. The visit comes amid significant geopolitical shifts affecting trade, including the U.S. tariff policies under former President Donald Trump.

On arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Starmer was welcomed by Maharashtra and Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and other senior state officials. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to hold discussions with the UK PM later in the evening.

On Thursday, Starmer and PM Modi are set to meet at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, at 10:00 am. The two leaders will review the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under “Vision 2035,” a decade-long roadmap agreed alongside the FTA in July.

The leaders will also attend the CEO Forum and the 6th Global Fintech Fest, engaging with industry experts, policymakers, and innovators on opportunities created by the India-UK trade agreement. Topics will include regional and global issues as well as economic collaboration. Starmer is scheduled to depart India at 11:30 pm Thursday.

Significance of the Visit

India and the UK are the world’s fifth- and sixth-largest economies, with bilateral trade valued at around $54.8 billion, supporting over 600,000 jobs across both nations.

Starmer highlighted the potential of the FTA, stating, “With India set to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, and trade with them about to become quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled.”

Under the new trade deal, India will reduce tariffs on British goods including whisky, cosmetics, and medical devices, while the UK will cut duties on Indian clothing, footwear, and food products such as frozen prawns. Starmer clarified that expanding visa access for Indian professionals is not part of the current plan, emphasizing that the focus remains on implementing the FTA.

India’s Foreign Ministry called the visit a “valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the United Kingdom to build a forward-looking partnership.”