United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister (PM) Keir Starmer will be on a two-day visit to India on October 8 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, news agency ANI reported, citing the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This will be Starmers first official trip to India after taking office. The MEA on Saturday said that both the PMs will be in Mumbai on October 9 to take stock of progress in the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under Vision 2035, a focused 10-year roadmap of programmes and initiatives. The roadmap covers key pillars including trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education, and people-to-people relations. According to ANI, both the PMs will engage with business leaders and industry experts on opportunities arising from the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which serves as a central pillar of the economic partnership between the two countries. Officials noted that this engagement is expected to encourage increased investment and trade collaborations, particularly in sectors such as technology, fintech, marine products, textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery. In addition to bilateral discussions, Starmer and Modi will exchange views on regional and global issues, reflecting the strategic importance of the India-UK relationship in the international arena. Modi and Starmer will also participate in the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, where they will deliver keynote addresses and interact with policymakers, innovators, and industry stakeholders, reported ANI. The MEA highlighted that this visit will build on the momentum created by PM Modis visit to the UK on July 23-24, reaffirming the shared commitment of both countries to a forward-looking partnership. The India-UK CETA, signed in the presence of both leaders, was formally executed by Indias Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds. Under the agreement, 99 per cent of tariff lines enjoy zero-duty access, while key services sectors have been opened to bilateral trade. The marine sector, in particular, will benefit from the removal of import tariffs on a wide range of seafood products, including Vannamei shrimp, frozen fish, lobsters, pomfret, and black tiger shrimp, enhancing Indias competitiveness in the UK market. Labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery are also expected to see increased exports under CETA. All fish and fisheries commodities listed under the UK tariff schedule categories marked A now enjoy 100 per cent duty-free access from the date of the agreements entry into force, providing a significant boost to Indias trade in these products. (With ANI inputs).
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