The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer will arrive in India on October 8-9, 2025, for his first official visit, following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Strategic Partnership Talks
Over the two-day visit, Modi and Starmer will assess progress under the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership outlined in the Vision 2035 roadmap, a decade-long framework covering trade, investment, defence, technology, climate, health, education, and cultural exchange.
On October 9 in Mumbai, both leaders will meet business and industry representatives to explore opportunities under the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). They are also scheduled to attend the 6th Global Fintech Fest, where they will deliver keynote speeches and engage with innovators, policymakers, and industry experts on emerging financial technologies.
Building on Modi’s UK Trip
Starmer’s visit follows Modi’s July 2025 trip to the UK, where they met at the British Prime Minister’s Chequers residence to consolidate the Vision 2035 strategy. During that meeting, India and the UK signed a defence industrial roadmap aimed at co-developing and co-producing key defence systems. Modi also met King Charles III, presenting a tree sapling under his “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” environmental initiative.
CETA Highlights
Signed on July 24, 2025, the CETA trade pact provides duty-free access for nearly 99% of Indian exports to the UK and removes tariffs on 90% of British goods. Currently valued at USD 56 billion, bilateral trade is projected to double by 2030 under this agreement.
Key beneficiaries include sectors such as textiles, marine goods, leather, sports equipment, jewellery, auto components, and organic chemicals. The services sector also gains from expanded market access in IT, finance, law, education, and professional services. Indian professionals—including chefs, yoga instructors, architects, and musicians will benefit from simplified visa procedures.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the deal as “a milestone in trade relations between two major economies,” noting the inclusion of the Double Contribution Convention, which exempts Indian workers and employers from UK social security payments for three years.
Looking Ahead
Starmer’s trip is expected to further deepen economic, technological, and strategic ties, building on the momentum of CETA and advancing shared goals under the Vision 2035 plan.