London: Keir Starmer, Leader of the UK Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, arrived in India this week leading a high-level business and academic delegation aimed at strengthening trade, legal cooperation, and institutional partnerships between India and the United Kingdom. The visit comes amid ongoing negotiations on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations.
The delegation includes senior Labour members, industry executives, and university officials. Meetings are scheduled with Indian ministries and trade bodies to discuss economic and legal frameworks that could expand bilateral ties.
Data from the UK Department for Business and Trade shows that total trade in goods and services between India and the UK stood at £44.1 billion for the year ending March 31, 2025 — up from the previous fiscal year, driven by growth in pharmaceuticals, financial services, clean energy, and higher education.
The itinerary covers New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with meetings planned with:
- The Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)
- The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
- The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
Officials said the discussions would focus on tariff adjustments, market access, and streamlining of regulatory standards. The proposed FTA, now in its fourteenth round, seeks to create a predictable framework for trade, investment, and dispute resolution.
Legal and Academic Cooperation in Focus
The visit builds on the Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) signed in May 2021, which created new channels for cooperation in trade and regulation. Under the agreement, both governments agreed to:
- Form a Joint Working Group on Legal Services to examine mutual recognition of legal qualifications.
- Strengthen intellectual property rights enforcement and patent systems.
- Promote transparency in procurement and investment-related arbitration.
Legal officials in the delegation said the discussions would help assess progress and define next steps for cross-border legal collaboration. Representatives from Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London are focusing on expanding academic partnerships, student mobility, and joint research with Indian institutions.
Several UK-based fintech and cybersecurity companies are also holding consultations with Indian authorities. These discussions are expected to address compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
Political Context and Strategic Timing
Although not an official government mission, the visit comes at a politically significant time. The United Kingdom heads to general elections later in 2025, where trade and economic cooperation are expected to feature prominently. In India, work on the 2026 Union Budget is underway, with trade expansion remaining a key policy priority.
The delegation includes Labour leaders Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Secretary for Business and Trade. Executives from FTSE 100 companies in pharmaceuticals, banking, and energy are also part of the group, along with academic and legal representatives.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has said that bilateral engagement will remain a priority regardless of political changes. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the visit, noting that both nations share long-term objectives in trade, education, and law.
Officials on both sides described the visit as a continuing effort to build reliable frameworks for investment and strengthen institutional partnerships.
