UK PM Keir Starmer Arrives in India with Major Business Delegation to Strengthen Trade and Investment Ties

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai early Wednesday morning for a two-day trade-focused visit to India, accompanied by a 125-member business delegation including top CEOs, ministers, and university representatives.

The visit comes just months after India and the UK signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to London. Starmer described the pact as “a launchpad for growth”, signaling a renewed push for deeper trade cooperation between the two nations.

According to No.10 Downing Street, the trip is a “trade mission to Mumbai,” featuring bilateral discussions on global and regional issues, technology partnerships, and economic collaboration. The two leaders will address the Global Fintech Fest on Thursday, alongside business leaders from both countries.

Under the new trade deal, the UK has agreed to remove tariffs on 99% of goods, benefiting sectors such as textiles, automobiles, and seafood, while tariffs on Scotch whisky will gradually reduce from 150% to 40% over the next decade.

Although the deal is not yet in effect, it is expected to double bilateral trade—currently valued at £44.1 billion ($59 billion)—within five years.

Starmer’s visit is also viewed as part of a broader effort to reset UK-India relations, following past political tensions and amid growing global competition for skilled workers.

Representatives from major companies such as Rolls-Royce, British Airways, Barclays, Diageo, Arup, and BT are part of the delegation, reflecting the UK’s intent to strengthen economic and academic partnerships with India under the shared “Vision 2035” roadmap.