The streets of Mumbai were alive with colour and anticipation as Sir Keir Starmer arrived for his two-day visit to India’s financial heartbeat. Giant banners of the UK Prime Minister alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi lined the avenues, a symbolic greeting to what both sides hope will be a new chapter in UK-India relations.
At the heart of the visit was the landmark UK-India trade deal signed in July, which Sir Keir hailed as a “launchpad” for closer economic and technological ties. Flanked by the UK’s largest-ever trade delegation, with 127 CEOs, entrepreneurs, university leaders, and cultural figures, he met PM Narendra Modi to explore ways to expand business, investment, and collaboration across industries.
“This trade deal is huge for the UK,” Sir Keir told journalists at a press conference. “It’s the most ambitious trade deal India has ever done. It’s a launchpad to boost British leadership in everything from tech, to life sciences, to renewable energy—and much more beyond that. The opportunity is clear. Just look at the sheer scale of India, the world’s largest democracy, on track to become the third-largest economy by 2028.”
Emphasising that India and the UK are natural partners, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the “growing partnership” between the two countries is emerging as a crucial foundation for “global stability and economic progress in the current era of global instability.”
He added that “the foundation of our relationship is a shared belief in values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law…”
Global issues on the agenda
Trade was just one part of their wide-ranging discussions. The war in Ukraine also featured prominently, with Sir Keir pressing Modi on India’s continued purchase of Russian fossil fuels, which contribute to funding Vladimir Putin’s military campaign.
Modi, who has described himself as a friend of Putin, stressed his preference for “dialogue and diplomacy” as a path to ending the conflict. The prime ministers also discussed broader issues of stability in the Indo-Pacific and co-operation on climate and energy, including reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Human rights were not left off the agenda. Sir Keir raised the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British Sikh activist imprisoned in India for seven years without conviction.
Education and innovation strengthen ties
Education and innovation were also central to the visit. Sir Keir announced that the University of Lancaster and the University of Surrey had received approval to open campuses in India, part of a growing network of British universities. “I’m delighted that more Indian students will be able to benefit from a world-class British education,” he said.
“This will strengthen the ties between our two countries while pumping millions back into our economy and supporting jobs at home.”
Along these lines, the UK Prime Minister also said that the much discussed visa situation hasn’t changed; “…we didn’t open up more visas. The issue is not about visas — it’s about business-to-business engagement and investment and jobs and prosperity coming into the United Kingdom.”
More commitments were reiterated on frontier technologies like telecommunications, critical minerals, AI, and health technologies.
Key outcomes of Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to India
• India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre established to enhance collaboration in frontier technologies.
• India-UK Joint Centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI) launched to drive innovation and research in AI.
• UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory (Phase II) launched to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals.
• Critical Minerals Industry Guild established to promote sustainable green technologies and secure supply chains.
• Satellite Campus at IIT-ISM Dhanbad, launched to expand educational collaboration.
• Lancaster University in Bengaluru: Letter of Intent handed over for a new campus.
• University of Surrey in GIFT City: In-principle approval granted for a new campus.
• Nine additional UK university campuses approved in India:
• Southampton University in Gurgaon
• Queen’s University Belfast in GIFT City
• Coventry University in GIFT City
• University of Surrey in GIFT City
• University of Bristol in GIFT City
• University of York in Mumbai
• University of Liverpool in Bengaluru
• University of Lancaster in Bengaluru
• University of Aberdeen in Mumbai
• India-UK CEO Forum: Inaugural meeting of the reconstituted forum convened to strengthen business collaboration.
• India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO): Reset to support implementation of the CETA and drive economic growth and job creation.
• Climate Technology Startup Fund launched to support innovative entrepreneurs in climate technology and AI.
• Bio-Medical Research Career Program (Phase III) launched to advance collaborative research.
• Health research collaboration: Letter of Intent signed between India’s ICMR and the UK’s NIHR to strengthen joint health research initiatives.
• Offshore Wind Taskforce established to promote renewable energy cooperation.
Signs of positive impact
The visit also featured a meeting with Nandan Nilekani, the architect of India’s digital ID system, as the UK prepares its own plan for a compulsory digital ID to verify workers’ rights.
Additionally, even before the visit concluded, the trade deal was already bearing fruit. The UK reports £1 billion in investment and nearly 7,000 jobs created, with plans to cut taxes on Indian imports such as clothing, footwear, jewellery, and frozen seafood, while India will reduce duties on Scotch whisky, cosmetics, medical devices, and luxury cars.
For Sir Keir, the trip was more than a diplomatic exercise, it was a statement of intent. Walking the vibrant streets of Mumbai, surrounded by a delegation representing the best of British business and culture, he offered a vision of a strengthened partnership: a relationship rooted in trade, education, innovation, and shared global responsibility, poised to grow alongside India’s rise on the world stage.
Soft power at centre stage
PM Keir Starmer also stepped into the world of glitz, glamour, and cinema, visiting Yash Raj Films (YRF) Studio. He was welcomed by Bollywood superstar Rani Mukerji and YRF CEO Akshay Widhani in a display of cultural diplomacy at its finest.
According to the British High Commission, the visit aimed to “deepen cultural collaboration and creative partnerships” between the UK and Indian film industries, a move widely seen as an effort to strengthen Britain’s soft power in one of the world’s largest entertainment markets.
Inside the iconic studio complex, Starmer engaged with YRF executives and toured key parts of the production facilities. Photos captured Rani Mukerji in animated conversation with the British leader, discussing storytelling and cinema against a backdrop of YRF’s legendary film posters. Starmer even tried his hand at an editing console before attending a presentation on Bollywood’s global reach inside the studio auditorium.
Highlighting the new era of film cooperation, Starmer announced that Yash Raj Films would return to the UK to shoot three major Bollywood blockbusters starting in 2026, ending a long hiatus. The British Film Institute (BFI), in a statement accompanying the memorandum of understanding, said the productions would generate over 3,000 jobs and inject millions of pounds into the UK economy.
“Bollywood is back in Britain, and it’s bringing jobs, investment, and opportunity, all while showcasing the UK as a world-class destination for global filmmaking,” Starmer said.
The prime minister’s delegation included cultural figures such as director Gurinder Chadha and BFI governors Monica Chadha and Andrew Smith, also Corporate Affairs Director at Pinewood Studios.
Starmer’s visit was not limited to cinema. He also met aspiring footballers, sharing his admiration for the Premier League’s training programme in India. Posting pictures on X, he said: “The Premier League’s training programme in India is so impressive: coaching future professionals, and showing the world what British sport can do.”
With film, sport, and culture at the centre of his itinerary, Starmer’s trip highlighted the growing significance of soft power as a tool of diplomacy.
“A rare and valuable partnership”
Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India
It’s been quite an exciting few days across the UK-India corridor. This all stems from the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It was a momentous occasion, cementing the relationship between the two countries at a time when global stability is uncertain.
This follow-up visit, following PM Modi’s invite, was an excellent opportunity to maintain momentum, ensuring that progress does not stall after the signing of a treaty. The UK delegation, probably the largest ever to India, consisted of approximately 130 businesses, ranging from top CEOs to small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as venture capital firms, academic representatives, and cultural icons bridging the two communities.
The scale of the visit was unprecedented. Hosting a Prime Minister alone is a complex task, but managing such a high-powered delegation made it one of the most complicated exercises I’ve ever undertaken. The Indian side matched the scale and commitment, resulting in a significant cohort present in Mumbai for nearly half a week. The primary focus was trade and investment, with extensive interaction among CEOs, academic leaders, and other delegates through large networking events, dinners, and small breakout groups.
One notable engagement was a meeting with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the top 10 CEOs in our delegation, discussing opportunities for investment and collaboration in Mumbai. It was an excellent chance for the state to showcase itself and for businesses to explore local opportunities.
The Prime Minister also engaged with Mumbai society and, being the home of Bollywood, visited Yash Raj Studios. The studio showcased the full scope of Bollywood’s global influence, and there were commitments to collaborate on future projects in the UK, including filming three films outside London, a sign of growing cultural exchange.
The following day featured a formal bilateral meeting at the Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s residence in Mumbai. This included a private discussion between the two Prime Ministers on key global issues, followed by a more structured bilateral meeting with eight UK representatives and eight Indian counterparts. Vice-Chancellors from nine UK universities, who are establishing campuses in India, were also present.
The Prime Ministers attended the Global FinTech Conference at Jio World, a massive venue accommodating 50,000–60,000 attendees. At the conference, we relaunched the Global CEO Forum, originally started a few years ago, and signed the Joint Economic and Trade Cooperation (JETCO) agreement. Both Prime Ministers delivered speeches to a rapturous reception, highlighting shared goals in trade, investment, and emerging industries like artificial intelligence.
The visit concluded with the inauguration of our new offices. After 48 hours of intensive engagements, the visit had an immense impact, setting the UK-India relationship on a firmer footing for the future.
One striking aspect of the visit was the warm personal rapport between the two Prime Ministers. Their interactions convey a shared vision for their nations’ future relationship. Businesses on both sides are highly enthusiastic about the FTA and its potential, eager to capitalise on the opportunities it presents.
Equally significant is the people-to-people connection between the UK and India. Whether in science, academia, or culture, the relationship is natural, unique, and unmatched by other countries, including Germany, France, or the US. It’s a rare and valuable partnership that we should continue to nurture and make the most of.
