British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently on a strategic visit to India, which has gained prominence amid concerns over U.S. tariffs affecting the Indian economy. Analysts view the visit as a step toward deepening bilateral trade relations. On Thursday, Starmer met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mumbai’s Raj Bhavan, followed by a joint media briefing. Starmer congratulated India for surpassing Japan as the world’s fourth-largest economy and expressed support for India’s goal of becoming the third-largest by 2028, emphasizing Britain’s commitment to being part of India’s growth journey.
During the discussions, both leaders highlighted the recently signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July, which is expected to generate trade worth £25.5 billion (₹3 lakh crore), marking the UK’s largest trade mission to date. The agreement will reduce tariffs on nearly 99% of Indian exports to the UK, including textiles, leather goods, footwear, and engineering products, while over 90% of UK exports to India, such as luxury cars, whisky, medical devices, and electronics, will also benefit from lower duties. Both nations aim to double bilateral trade to $120 billion (₹10.66 lakh crore) by 2030. Starmer also announced plans to establish additional British university campuses in India, promoting collaboration in artificial intelligence and creative industries.
The path-breaking India-UK CETA will create new job opportunities for youth, expand trade and benefit both our industries as well as consumers. In this context, PM Starmer and I discussed trade linkages and economic ties between our nations in the times to come. @Keir_Starmer pic.twitter.com/zs5obf7Hh7
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2025
The visit further strengthened cooperation in defense and education. British universities, including the University of Lancaster and the University of Surrey, plan to set up campuses in GIFT City, Gujarat, and Bengaluru, Karnataka. Defense agreements worth £350 million (₹4,142 crore) were signed for missile and launcher supplies and related technologies. Additionally, Yash Raj Films announced that three major films will be shot in the UK from 2026, expected to contribute millions of pounds to the UK economy, underscoring the broader economic and cultural impact of Starmer’s visit.