07-Jun-2025 01:11 PM
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New Delhi, June 7 (Reporter) UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is visiting New Delhi today, to further advance the India-UK relationship during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, besides other government officials.
His visit comes after the two nations agreed on the Free Trade Agreement, which is set to increase trade by more than pounds 25 billion every year.
Foreign Secretary Lammy will meet with Prime Minister Modi on his second visit to India to discuss ongoing economic and migration partnership, a statement from the British HC said.
The Foreign Secretary will also welcome progress in the migration partnership, including ongoing work on safeguarding citizens and securing borders in both countries. Addressing migration remains a top priority for the government - the Foreign Secretary is focused on working internationally with global partners to secure the UK’s borders at home.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Signing a free trade agreement is just the start of our ambitions - we’re building a modern partnership with India for a new global era. We want to go even further to foster an even closer relationship and cooperate when it comes to delivering growth, fostering innovative technology, tackling the climate crisis and delivering our migration priorities, and providing greater security for our people.”
The Foreign Secretary will also meet with leading figures in Indian business to discuss how we can unlock even greater investment by Indian business in the UK.
Our investment relationship supports over 600,000 jobs across both countries, with over 950 Indian-owned companies in the UK and over 650 UK companies in India. In 2023-24, India was the UK’s second largest source of investments in terms of number of projects for the fifth consecutive year.
Talks will also take stock of progress, following a commitment by the UK and Indian Prime Ministers to take forward an ambitious UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The trade deal is a key example of the progress being made since the last meeting between the Foreign Secretary and his Indian counterpart. It follows the signing of the UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation Agreement in May and pounds 400 million of trade and investment wins boosting the British and the Indian economy at the Economic and Financial Dialogue in April.
The Foreign Secretary is also expected to address the recent escalation in tensions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and how the welcomed sustained period of peace can be best supported in the interests of stability in the region.
On May 2, the UK and India signed a new UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation to boost collaboration across the arts and culture, creative industries, tourism and sport sectors. The agreement will open the door for increased UK creative exports to India and enable more partnerships between UK and Indian museums and cultural institutions, helping to grow UK soft power.
At the 13th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in April, Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed pounds 400 million of trade and investment wins set to boost the British and the Indian economy and deliver economic growth and security for working people.
David Lammy travelled to India on his first official visit as Foreign Secretary in July last year, when he announced the landmark UK-India Technology Security Initiative...////...