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Starmer’s visit to India focuses on trade, tech, and investment. With India already investing billions in the UK, will new agreements increase commitments? The outcome of today’s meeting could signal a major shift in bilateral economic relations.
The visit aims to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties.
Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host British PM Keir Starmer at the scenic Raj Bhavan in Mumbai today. This will be their third meeting, after talks at Chequers in Buckinghamshire in July and on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last November. The meet aims to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and technology collaboration.
The visit comes ahead of the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is expected to significantly boost economic engagement between the two nations.
The India-UK CETA, signed in July 2025, is designed to increase bilateral trade to $34 billion annually by 2040. The agreement reduces tariffs on 90% of British exports to India, including products such as whisky, medical devices, and electrical machinery.
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Conversely, India will cut automotive tariffs from over 100% to just 10%, opening new opportunities for UK carmakers.
Technology will be a central theme in today’s discussions. The leaders are expected to review the Technology Security Initiative, launched in 2024, which focuses on secure data exchange and innovation partnerships. Starmer praised India’s Aadhaar digital ID program as a model for efficient, inclusive governance and expressed interest in learning from India’s experience with digital identification.
Technology will be a central theme in today’s discussions.
Starmer also met with Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and architect of Aadhaar, highlighting the UK’s interest in leveraging Indian technology expertise for innovation and secure digital governance frameworks.
Beyond trade and technology, the visit aims to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties. Leading Indian film company Yash Raj Films has committed to producing three Bollywood blockbusters in the UK starting in early 2026, creating approximately 3,000 jobs and contributing millions of pounds to the British economy.
The visit signals a multi-faceted approach to collaboration, with both nations seeking to expand trade, attract investment, and foster cultural exchange.
One of the key questions during today’s meeting is whether India will ramp up its investments in the UK. So far, 64 Indian companies have committed £1.3 billion ($1.75 billion) in various sectors, but trade analysts suggest that the meeting could pave the way for further investment announcements in technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure.
Experts note that the CETA provides strong incentives for Indian firms, including lower tariffs and smoother regulatory procedures, which could encourage additional commitments in the coming months.
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While no new figures have been officially confirmed, insiders indicate that India is likely to explore strategic investments that complement the UK’s industrial and technology priorities.
The visit is part of the UK's largest-ever trade delegation to India, comprising over 100 companies and organizations seeking partnerships in sectors including technology, renewable energy, and manufacturing.
