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Alongside the FTA, the leaders are expected to discuss deeper collaboration in defence, technology, and regional security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the United Kingdom later this month, with official discussions underway to finalise the trip, sources have confirmed. If concluded, the visit would mark Modi’s first to the UK since both countries announced the formal closure of negotiations on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The trip is expected to be a high-stakes diplomatic engagement, potentially culminating in the signing of the FTA and signalling a new phase in bilateral economic and strategic ties.
The visit follows a series of high-level exchanges, including a recent meeting between PM Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Alberta, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s subsequent visit to London. Officials suggest the UK leg could be combined with a visit to the Maldives, although final confirmations are pending. Alongside the FTA, the leaders are expected to discuss deeper collaboration in defence, technology, and regional security. An announcement on the final itinerary is expected soon.
The recently concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom is set to significantly enhance economic ties by boosting Indian exports, facilitating greater mobility for Indian professionals, and increasing remittance flows into the country.
According to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence, the deal is expected to provide a major economic stimulus for India, with remittances, estimated at USD 130 billion in 2024 and accounting for 3.3% of the country’s GDP, likely to grow further. The UK is currently the third-largest source of these remittances, following the US and the UAE. A key provision under the FTA allows Indian ICT workers posted in the UK to receive a waiver on national insurance contributions for up to three years, potentially increasing their savings and money transfers back home.
The agreement aims to double bilateral trade in goods and services by 2030, up from USD 56.7 billion in 2024. Indian exporters—particularly in textiles and apparel, sectors currently facing headwinds in the US—are expected to benefit from improved market access in the UK. On the British side, the deal opens the door to India’s expanding middle class, with immediate gains anticipated in the beverage industry.
Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, …Read More
Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, … Read More
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