India–UK FTA: A Roadmap for Shared Progress and Prosperity, nine UK Universities to open campuses in India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a comprehensive roadmap for shared growth and prosperity, emphasizing that the accord would serve as a key driver of employment generation and industrial development in both countries.
Addressing the India–UK CEO Forum alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Modi called upon the business communities of both nations to identify new sectors where they could set global benchmarks through innovation, quality, and collaboration.
CETA Fuels Investment Momentum
Prime Minister Modi noted that the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed between India and the United Kingdom in July has already begun yielding tangible economic benefits.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking on the occasion, revealed that trade and investment between the two nations have increased by nearly £6 billion in the three months following the CETA signing, underscoring the robust potential of the new partnership.
Starmer also interacted with top business leaders from both countries, seeking their insights on how the two governments could remove existing barriers that hinder the full realization of trade opportunities.
“We want to accelerate the enormous potential unlocked by this trade agreement,” Starmer said, adding that his government is committed to facilitating deeper commercial collaboration across key sectors.
Building a Resilient Partnership amid Global Challenges
Prime Minister Modi observed that the India–UK CETA provides a framework of stability and confidence at a time when the world faces multiple crises and conflicts.
“This trade agreement is not just about commerce—it is about creating a framework for stability and cooperation in an uncertain global environment,” he stated.
He extended a warm invitation to British companies to invest in India, particularly in the infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, energy, and financial services sectors, emphasizing India’s ongoing transformation as one of the world’s most dynamic markets.
Doubling Bilateral Trade Before 2030
Currently, the bilateral trade volume between India and the UK stands at USD 56 billion, but Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that this figure will double well before the target year of 2030.
“Our collaboration is powered by talent, technology, and trust. I am confident that India and the UK will achieve the goal of doubling trade ahead of schedule,” Modi asserted.
He further highlighted the immense potential for collaboration in fintech, semiconductors, green hydrogen, and the startup ecosystem, areas where India and Britain could set new global standards through joint innovation and entrepreneurship.
Boost to MSMEs and Job Creation
Modi underlined that the FTA will particularly benefit India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by expanding their global reach, enhancing competitiveness, and creating new employment avenues.
He also mentioned that India is opening up the nuclear energy sector to private participation, signaling a new era of cooperation in advanced and sustainable technologies.
British Universities to Open Campuses in India
In a landmark development in education and research collaboration, nine leading British universities are set to establish campuses in India, marking a major stride in academic exchange and innovation.
Prime Minister Modi announced this initiative, which British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said would bring world-class British education closer to Indian students.
Starmer pointed out that after the recent inauguration of the University of Southampton’s campus in Gurugram, the Lancaster University and the University of Surrey have also received approval to set up new campuses.
Meanwhile, York University, the University of Aberdeen, the University of Bristol, the University of Liverpool, Queen’s University Belfast, and Coventry University are all scheduled to open their Indian campuses next year.
This development, Starmer noted, represents the deepening trust and educational partnership between the two countries — one that will empower future generations through knowledge, innovation, and global connectivity.
A Vision for Shared Prosperity
Both Prime Ministers reaffirmed that the India–UK partnership is not transactional but transformational, rooted in shared democratic values and driven by a common vision for economic inclusion, innovation, and global leadership.
As the two nations strengthen their ties through trade, education, technology, and defence cooperation, their partnership stands as a model of mutual respect and forward-looking engagement in a changing world.
#IndiaUKFTA #CETA #PMModi #KeirStarmer #IndiaUKRelations #TradeAndInvestment #GlobalPartnership #SharedProsperity #EconomicGrowth #MSME #Fintech #GreenHydrogen #Semiconductors #Startups #EducationExchange #UKUniversitiesInIndia #BilateralTrade #Innovation #AatmanirbharBharat #StrategicAllies #TanveerZaidiWrites
