Prime Minister Keir Starmer has concluded his first official visit to India, marking a significant step in strengthening UK-India relations.
During the two-day trip, Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed progress under the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through the ‘Vision 2035’ roadmap, a 10-year plan spanning trade, investment, technology, defence, climate, education, and cultural ties.
Upon arriving in Mumbai, Starmer was welcomed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Governor Acharya Devvrat.
Before landing, Starmer shared a video from the cockpit of his British Airways flight, announcing, “This is the biggest trade mission to India the UK has ever sent,” as he travelled with a 125-member business delegation, the largest to date.
The visit follows the landmark UK-India Free Trade Agreement signed in July 2024, which is expected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually and usher in a new era of economic collaboration between the two nations.
Starmer announces UK-India film partnership
During his visit to Mumbai, Prime Minister Starmer visited Yash Raj Films (YRF) Studios in Andheri, announcing that leading Indian production houses, including YRF, will soon shoot films across the UK.
Accompanied by a UK film delegation from the British Film Institute, Pinewood Studios, and others, Starmer met prominent producers such as YRF CEO Akshaye Widhwani, Rani Mukerji, Dinesh Vijan, Ritesh Sidhwani, and Apoorva Mehta.
“Bollywood is back in Britain,” Starmer declared, highlighting how the collaboration will bring jobs, investment, and global visibility to the UK film industry under the new India-UK trade framework. YRF CEO Akshaye Widhwani added that the studio was honoured to host the Prime Minister and announced plans to begin major productions in the UK from early 2026. The initiative is expected to create over 3,000 jobs and inject millions into the UK economy. Starmer also toured the studios and watched a film with Rani Mukerji and Widhwani.
Continuing his engagements in Mumbai, Starmer participated in a football showcase organised by the English Premier League in Mumbai, highlighting sports diplomacy between the UK and India. Arriving from London earlier in the day, Starmer visited Cooperage Stadium in south Mumbai under tight security. The event aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and inspire youth participation in football. Former England international Michael Owen joined the proceedings, lauding the growing cultural and sporting collaboration between the two nations as a “celebration of friendship and sportsmanship.”
Mumbai welcomes Keir Starmer with festive cheers
Starmer lit diyas in Mumbai, symbolising the strong cultural ties between India and the United Kingdom ahead of Diwali. The ceremony took place during Starmer’s first official visit to India, marking a key moment in bilateral relations. Mumbai welcomed the UK leader with a special display, highlighted in a video shared by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
In the clip shared on X, Jaiswal wrote, “Mumbai gives a special welcome to PM @Keir_Starmer of UK,” accompanied by the Indian and UK flags. The 39-second video shows large roadside billboards featuring Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer with the message “Warm Welcome,” lining Marine Drive and nearby areas. A subtitle in the video reads, “Welcoming PM Keir Starmer of UK to India.”
In a light-hearted moment during his visit to the Taj Mahal Palace, Starmer was seen taking a selfie with a disposable camera, adding a personal touch to his formal engagements and trade discussions.
Goyal, Kyle discuss strengthening bilateral trade ties
Indian Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle in Mumbai to discuss strengthening bilateral trade during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s two-day visit to India.
Kyle, part of Starmer’s delegation, joined Goyal in exploring ways to maximise the benefits of the UK-India free trade agreement (CETA) signed in July. The pact aims to reduce tariffs on goods such as textiles, whisky, and cars while expanding market access, and is projected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion (USD 34 billion) by 2040.
The ministers focused on regulatory cooperation, tackling non-tariff barriers, and promoting supply chain integration. They agreed to reposition the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to oversee CETA’s implementation and ensure coordinated, results-oriented delivery.
Both sides reaffirmed their ambition to double bilateral trade by 2030 and exchanged views on the global trade outlook. Goyal highlighted India’s role as a key engine of global growth, while Kyle described CETA as the UK’s “best-ever deal with India,” offering British businesses priority access to India’s market. The meeting concluded with a business plenary attended by senior industry representatives, underscoring both nations’ commitment to a modern, inclusive, and mutually beneficial trade partnership.
Modi, Starmer hold high-level talks in Mumbai
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Starmer at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, marking the beginning of Starmer’s first official visit to India. The leaders exchanged pleasantries before holding high-level talks on trade, education, defence cooperation, and regional stability.
Indian Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal also met Starmer to discuss deepening economic and trade ties. Sharing details on X, Goyal said, “Delighted to call on UK Prime Minister @KeirStarmer. Discussed avenues to further deepen India-UK trade & economic partnership for mutual prosperity.”
The visit also addressed security concerns, including Khalistani extremism. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “PM Modi emphasised that radicalism and violent extremism have no space in democratic societies and should be countered within the legal framework.”
At a joint press conference, PM Modi highlighted the India-UK partnership as being driven by “trustworthiness, talent, and technology.” He called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in London in July “historic,” noting it will lower import costs, create youth employment, and boost bilateral trade. Nine UK universities, including Southampton University in Gurugram, will open campuses in India, strengthening education collaboration.
On geopolitics, Modi said discussions covered the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and the Ukraine conflict, with India supporting peace through dialogue. Defence cooperation will include Indian Air Force instructors serving in the UK’s Royal Air Force, alongside collaboration on critical minerals and the establishment of an Industry Guild and Supply Chain Observatory.
Starmer described the talks as the start of a “new modern partnership focusing on the future” and highlighted the significance of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, which aims to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually. Both leaders also met Vice Chancellors of UK universities at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
India-UK CEO Forum showcases business collaboration
At the India-UK CEO Forum in Mumbai, Starmer described the past two days of discussions between Indian and British business leaders as “incredibly productive,” noting a “real buzz” of collaboration and ideas. He called the event “a celebration of the partnership between the UK and India,” highlighting the growing momentum in bilateral economic ties. Starmer also emphasised shared global commitments, saying, “We sit together in the Commonwealth, G20, and we want to see India taking its rightful place in the UN Security Council.”
Modi hailed the year as “unprecedented” for India-UK relations, citing the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) during Starmer’s July UK visit as a “historic achievement.” Modi described CETA as a roadmap for “shared progress, shared prosperity, and shared people,” which will boost market access, empower MSMEs, and create job opportunities for millions of youth.
The two countries also strengthened defence ties, with Britain signing a £350 million ($468 million) contract to supply lightweight missiles to the Indian Army. On education, the UK will become the largest foreign higher education presence in India, with nine British universities setting up campuses; including Lancaster, Surrey, York, Aberdeen, Bristol, Liverpool, Queen’s University Belfast, Coventry, and Southampton in Gurugram.
CETA trade deal boosts UK-India collaboration, says Starmer
Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer shared an unexpected car ride to the 2025 Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, capturing attention as they arrived together.
At the event, PM Modi highlighted India’s technological inclusivity, citing the democratization of tech over the past decade and India’s commitment to a global ethical AI framework. He noted that the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) now handles 20 billion transactions worth ₹25 lakh crore every month. Modi invited global businesses, including those from the UK, to participate in India’s growth story, emphasising fintech as a tool for equality and empowerment, driven by the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile).
Addressing the audience in Hindi, Starmer said, “Mujhe yahan aa kar bahut khushi hui” (I am very happy to be here), before encouraging industry leaders from both countries to identify barriers to trade. “We want to support you to maximise the potential of the trade agreement,” he said, noting a £6 billion boost in trade and investment since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July.
The two leaders also underscored the India-UK partnership as a pillar of global stability and economic progress. Initiatives announced include supplying lightweight multirole missile systems to the Indian military and an in-principle agreement to jointly develop maritime electric propulsion systems for India’s navy. Defence, technology, and education cooperation were emphasised as key pillars of the growing relationship.
Starmer noted India’s trajectory to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028 and described the UK-India trade deal as a launchpad for British leadership in technology, life sciences, renewable energy, and more. During the visit, 64 Indian investment projects worth £1.3 billion were announced in the UK, expected to generate nearly 7,000 jobs across sectors including electric mobility, semiconductors, AI, agri-tech, and ed-tech.
‘Immigration has always been great for Great Britain’
Before the delegration left for the India, Asian Voice spoke exclusively to Lord Karan Bilimoria stated the importance of PM Starmer’s visit to India. As the anti-immigrant rhetoric grows strong in the UK, the diaspora and their families back in India, fear for the future of the British Indian community. Many are even questioning Sir Starmer’s leadership and Labour party’s vision, as the unrest grows.
Lord Bilimoria told us, “It is nine years since we've had such a huge Prime Minister led delegation to India. The last one was Theresa May in November 2016. PM Starmer is taking a large business delegation, ministers, the press, university leaders, and from a cross section of manufacturing, of services, of business organisations, the International Chamber of Commerce, which I Chair, the CBI, which I was President of, we're all going to be there.”
Emphasising on the significance of this visit, he added, “And this is very important, particularly given that it's within three months of the signing of the free trade agreement. So it's the opportunity now for Britain to say to India, we mean business, and to grow trade, business and investment between our two countries. The bilateral trade is 42 billion pounds, but it should be double of that in five years, because India is only the 12 largest trading part of the UK. It should be one of the top five.”
Speaking about the issues of immigrant bashing that have been unnerving the diaspora recently, Lord Bilimoria said, “The problem at the moment is that the whole of the UK is very worried about the illegal immigration that's taking place, particularly on the boat, which is very sad and tragic, and that needs to be stopped. But when it comes to the legal immigration under the Points Based System (PBS) on which India is the number one, when it comes to international students, India is also number one. We want the best and brightest students from the world, including from India. We want the best and brightest people at work. We're supporting our economy, and India plays a major role including in the NHS. Without the Indian doctors and Indian nurses, the NHS would not function so efficiently. Immigration has always been great for Great Britain.”
He further added, “What is sad about the situation is there should not be a fear of immigration. There should be a strong legal immigration. There should always be an appreciation of the good immigration.
“There are 15% ethnic minority in this country, 2 million Indians, of which I'm proud to be one - it is the most successful ethnic minority community and the largest ethnic minority community in the UK. And what a contribution the Indian community makes in the UK in every field - whether it's in education, medicine, politics, business, or every field that you can think of! The Indians have reached the very top and are making a huge contribution to the UK.”
