Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Britain and India want to strike a 'truly ambitious' trade deal: Rishi Sunak

The prime minister said the eyes of the world will be on India over the next few weeks and months

Britain and India want to strike a 'truly ambitious' trade deal: Rishi Sunak

BRITAIN and India want to strike a truly “ambitious trade deal” that benefits both the nations, bringing “tremendous opportunities” for businesses and consumers, prime minister Rishi Sunak has said.

At a reception on Wednesday (28) to celebrate India Global Forum's UK-India week 2023 in Downing Street, Sunak said the eyes of the world will be on India over the next few weeks and months.


"The UK-India week is genuinely a very big moment in the calendar. But this year, I think we're actually going one better. It's not just India week, but a whole India summer," he told guests in the garden of his official home.

"There, is of course, the G20 in New Delhi. And I absolutely can't wait to be there. In fact, it is only going to be the warm-up act to the biggest event of all, when India hosts the cricket World Cup."

The prime minister added, “There is so much to celebrate. The links between our two countries are closer than ever. Just look at the coronation of the King. On that most historic day, people of Indian heritage were at the heart of proceedings, presenting the coronation regalia and as part of the delegation of faith leaders.

“It shows the depth of the bonds we share, the living bridge between our two nations, the thriving business links, and the flow of ideas and investments, all stronger than ever. But of course, we want to do more."

53007686632 b500d8984e b Sunak speaks during the event (Photo: Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street)

Sunak said he and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi want to strike a “truly ambitious” trade deal that will provide benefit opportunities for businesses and consumers, both in India and the UK.

“Prime minister Modi-ji and I agree there's huge potential. We're making great progress together on the 2030 roadmap and we want to strike a truly ambitious trade deal that benefits both our nations, bringing tremendous opportunities to businesses and consumers, both in India and here," Sunak said.

53008661615 6b83d3ba48 b Rishi Sunak speaks with Aditya Mittal (L) (Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street)

India and the UK recently concluded the tenth round of FTA negotiations and an 11th round is set to begin in the next few weeks.

53008661190 b4ef83e58e b Rishi Sunak with actor Vivek Oberoi (R) (Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street)

Sunak was joined by his wife Akshata Murty and joked that the garden party was also in honour of his mother-in-law Sudha Murty, who is visiting from India.

“Here we are, in Downing Street, with a prime minister of Indian heritage, with all of you at the top of your game, leaders in your fields showing that anything is possible. So, let's keep raising our sights and let's keep scoring boundaries as we build this partnership," the prime minister said.

53007685962 7dbc827c91 b Rishi Sunak with guests (Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street)

In his remarks, India Global Forum founder, Manoj Ladwa, noted the “great winning partnership” between the UK and India.

Ladwa said, "We are all here from such diverse backgrounds, experiences and journeys. Yet what unites us is our passion and our contribution to enhance what I describe as the great winning partnership between the UK and India.

"There is no noble cause of greater national strategic importance, no bigger ambition that will unite our two great nations for eternity, if England thrashes Australia (in Ashes Test)."

53008661110 9ae58dbcb9 b Rishi Sunak interacts with guests. (Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street)

Sunak met business leaders and celebrities, including tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, musician Shankar Mahadevan (who were both in London for the 50th reunion of the band, Shakti), boxing champion Mary Kom, India’s high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, deputy high commissioner, Sujit Ghosh, Chanel CEO Leena Nair, KPMG chair Bina Mehta, author and director of Nehru Centre Amish Tripathi, Anil Agarwal of Vedanta, Aditya Mittal of Arcelor Mittal, Shrai Madhvani, Bollywood actors Vivek Oberoi and Sonam Kapoor.

Guests included Lord Dolar Popat and Lord Jitesh Gadhia.

The Forum's fifth annual UK-India week runs until Friday (30).

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less