The opportunities waiting to be seized under the India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are “unparalleled”, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday (October 8, 2025) as he kick-started his first visit to India after assuming the charge of the top office.
“It’s the biggest deal we’ve struck since we left the European Union,” Mr. Starmer said. “I think it’s also the biggest deal that India has ever struck, so it’s hugely important.”
Watch: Make maximum advantage of the ‘hugely important’ India-U.K. FTA: Keir Starmer tells colleagues
Mr. Starmer, accompanied by a delegation of about 100 entrepreneurs, cultural representatives, and university Vice-Chancellors, arrived in Mumbai for a two-day visit to take advantage of the opportunities brought about by the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement signed in July.
“It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth. 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,” he said.
The British leader will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. They will address the sixth edition of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai.
“Welcome Prime Minister Keir Starmer on your historic first visit to India with the largest ever trade delegation from the U.K.,” Mr. Modi said on X on Wednesday (October 8). “Looking forward to our meeting tomorrow for advancing our shared vision of a stronger, mutually prosperous future.”
A meeting of leaders
According to the External Affairs Ministry, Mr. Starmer’s trip was at the invitation of Mr. Modi and is his first official visit to India.
“During the visit, on October 9 in Mumbai, the two Prime Ministers will take stock of progress in diverse aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with ‘Vision 2035’, a focused and time bound 10-year road map of programmes and initiatives in key pillars of trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education and people to people relations,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Both leaders would engage with business and industry leaders regarding the opportunities presented by the trade agreement. “They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance,” it added.
The India-U.K. CETA aims at boosting bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually. It provides substantial tariff reductions on a range of goods, including textiles, whisky, and cars, enhancing competitiveness for exporters in both markets.
Specifically, the U.K. will offer duty-free access on 99.1% of its tariff lines, covering 100% of the trade value immediately upon enforcement.
Duty-free access to U.K. under FTA to drive foreign investment into India
Of investments and visas
Mr. Starmer’s trip to India has yielded positive statements from some U.K. companies, such as Rolls-Royce, about their future plans in India.
“We have deep ambitions to develop India as a home for Rolls-Royce, building on our strong and successful partnership,” Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce, said in Mumbai. “Our competitively advantaged technologies across air, land, and sea applications position us to successfully build in-country capabilities and foster strategic partnerships that will accelerate India’s progress towards a Viksit Bharat,” he said.
Mr. Starmer, however, reportedly indicated that the U.K. would not be revisiting its visa requirements for Indians.
According to the BBC, Mr. Starmer reportedly said that no business leaders he had met so far raised the question of visas. It added that, during the flight to India, Mr. Starmer said that visas “played no part” in the CETA and that the situation had not changed.
Reel relations
Mr. Starmer also visited the Yash Raj Films (YRF) studio, where he met Indian producers and film stars, such as Rani Mukherjee.
The British Prime Minister is reportedly keen to strengthen cultural ties between India and the U.K. and promote collaboration between the film industries of the two countries.
The U.K. government issued a release on Wednesday (October 8) saying that three new Bollywood movies will be made in the UK from next year, with YRF having confirmed plans to bring their major productions to locations across the U.K. from early 2026.
Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal met Peter Kyle, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in Mumbai with a view to moving forward with the operationalisation of the India-U.K. CETA, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement. Mr. Kyle is part of the delegation accompanying Mr. Starmer.
Published – October 08, 2025 12:46 pm IST
