Starmer leads a 125-strong delegation to India in a bid to ‘turbocharge’ trade | International trade news

The British leader wants the trade mission, Britain’s largest ever to India, to build on a recent agreement between the countries.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in India with an extended delegation of leading British CEOs, entrepreneurs and university vice-chancellors on a visit that his government says is aimed at “turbocharging” trade between the countries.

The two-day trade mission to India, which began in Mumbai on Wednesday, is aimed at promoting trade and business opportunities between India and Britain – the world’s fifth and sixth largest economies respectively – as both countries seek to realign their trade ties in the wake of tough tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration.

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In August, the US suffered a blow Rates of 50 percent on goods from India in response to New Delhi’s trade with Russia, especially its massive consumption of Russian oil, while Britain, which has trade agreement with Washington in May, has also been hit by tariffs, albeit at a much slower pace.

Announcing the visit, Starmer said the mission was intended to build on a recent visit groundbreaking trade deal.

“We signed a major trade deal with India in July – the best guaranteed by any country – but the story doesn’t stop there,” he said in a statement.

“It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth. With India set to become the world’s third largest economy by 2028 and trade with them about to become faster and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be tapped are unparalleled.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will meet Starmer on Thursday before the leaders address a fintech conference in Mumbai, welcomed his British counterpart in a statement, adding that he hoped to strengthen their “shared vision for a stronger, mutually prosperous future”.

Trade between the countries is worth $54.8 billion and supports more than 600,000 jobs in both countries, AFP news agency reported.

Opportunities ‘that are already presenting themselves’

Under the new deal, India will cut tariffs on British goods such as whisky, cosmetics and medical equipment, while Britain will cut tariffs on clothing, shoes and food products, including frozen shrimp, from India.

The British government said in a statement that the new trade deal would, according to current forecasts, increase Britain’s gross domestic product by 4.8 billion pounds ($6.4 billion) annually and increase British exports to India by almost 60 percent.

Starmer told the delegation that “opportunities were already opening up”, that trade rose sharply as a result of the deal and that members needed to build on the momentum.

After a visit to the Yash Raj Film studio, Starmer announced on Wednesday that three Bollywood films will be made in Britain from next year.

“Bollywood is back in Britain, bringing jobs, investment and opportunity, while establishing Britain as a world-class destination for global filmmaking,” he said.

Starmer also visited a new community program in the English Premier League, where he met aspiring young Indian footballers and coaches, highlighting the popularity of the British football league among Indian fans.

The British trade delegation includes Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways, Murray Auchincloss, CEO of BP and Wouter van Wersch, executive vice president international for Airbus, along with vice chancellors from 14 British universities.