PM Boris Johnson will visit India this week to cement the country’s long-term partnership for peace and prosperity — as part of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
The visit will begin in Ahmedabad on Thursday (21st April) to meet with leading businesses and discuss the UK and India’s thriving commercial, trade and people links. This will be the first time a UK Prime Minister has visited Gujarat, India’s fifth largest state and the ancestral home of around half of the British-Indian population in the UK.
The Prime Minister will then travel to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Modi on Friday (22nd April). The leaders will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India’s strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the Indo-Pacific.
In Gujarat, the Prime Minister is expected to announce major investment in key industries in both the UK and India, boosting jobs and growth at home, as well as new collaboration on cutting-edge science, health and technology.
Taking to Twitter on Easter Sunday, the PM announced his India travel plans and stressed that “democracies and friends” must stick together.
India, as a major economic power and the world’s largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times. 2/3
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 17, 2022
He will use the visit to drive progress in the Free Trade Agreement negotiations launched earlier this year – a deal with India is predicted to boost our total trade by up to £28 billion annually by 2035 and increase incomes across the UK by up to £3 billion.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together. India, as a major economic power and the world’s largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times.”
“My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence.”
Read more about the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which was agreed last year.
