India-UK relations celebrated at Labour annual conference

• EasternEye
• 27 September, 2024

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By: EasternEye

THE HIGH Commission of India in London, in collaboration with the Labour Party, hosted a special event during the party’s annual conference in Liverpool to celebrate the growing India-UK partnership.

Trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds and minister for migration and citizenship Seema Malhotra were among the newly elected Labour MPs who participated in the event on Tuesday evening. The gathering provided a platform for discussions on mutual interests between the two countries.

Labour Indians, a diaspora outreach organisation, also distributed a pamphlet titled ‘The UK-India Relationship: Perspectives on a Future Partnership’ at the conference.

“With new governments in both countries, there is fresh momentum in the relationship. Together, we are keen to harness the immense opportunities that the rapidly evolving global economy presents,” said Vikram Doraiswami, Indian high commissioner to the UK.

He emphasised the need for collaboration in areas such as science, technology, education, and digital public infrastructure, stating that India’s growing economy, combined with the UK’s expertise in innovation, holds great potential for both nations. Doraiswami also referred to the Technology and Security Initiative, signed during foreign secretary David Lammy’s visit to India in July, as a “landmark” agreement.

“India-UK ties are not limited to bilateral interests – they are also global in scope,” Doraiswami added, noting that both nations are committed to working not just for their own prosperity but also for the broader global good.

The four-day conference, which ended on Wednesday, featured keynote speeches by prominent government figures, including Keir Starmer, who left for the United Nations General Assembly in New York shortly after.

Jonathan Reynolds, the senior-most government minister at the India event, is leading the negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. The event also saw the participation of several newly elected MPs of Indian origin.

“It is Britain that produces the second largest number of significant machine learning systems. India’s software talent matches Britain’s AI excellence. Together, we pursue the future of frontier artificial intelligence, grounded in our shared values,” said Kanishka Narayan, the first Indian-origin MP from Wales and vice-chair of Labour Indians.

Sojan Joseph, a Kerala-born NHS mental health nurse and the new MP for Ashford, called on the Labour government to act decisively in fixing the National Health Service (NHS). He highlighted India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission as an example of innovation in healthcare.

Labour Indians reiterated the significance of the British Indian community in strengthening UK-India ties. “The British Indian community is integral to the UK’s economic success and global positioning,” said Krish Raval, chair of Labour Indians, adding that close collaboration with the British Indian diaspora can drive economic growth and strengthen national security.

(With inputs from PTI)