Prime Minister Modi to visit United Kingdom and the Maldives

During the visit to the U.K., Prime Minister Modi is expected to unveil the bilateral trade pact that the two sides announced on May 6. The Hindu reported.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold wide ranging discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the entire gamut of India-U.K. bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in the official announcement. During the visit PM Modi is scheduled to meet King Charles III.

Prime Minister Modi had announced the trade deal with the U.K. on May 6 describing it as “ambitious and mutually beneficial”. Before announcing the deal on the social media, he had held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Starmer. The negotiation for the deal that witnessed several twists because of change of multiple governments in the U.K. started in 2022.

The Government of the U.K. has described the deal as “the biggest and most economically significant bilateral trade deal”. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal paid a two-day visit to the U.K. in June to lay the grounds for the unveiling of the India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The Ministry of External Affairs said that during the visit, Mr. Modi will review the state of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), “with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people to people ties.”