PM Modi holds delegation-level meeting with UK PM Keir Starmer in Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a delegation-level meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday in Mumbai, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between the two nations.

The leaders exchanged warm greetings, underscoring their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across trade, culture, and sports.

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PM Modi’s two-day visit to Mumbai continued with a packed schedule of high-level diplomatic and economic engagements, including bilateral talks with PM Starmer. This visit marks the UK leader’s first official trip to India at Modi’s invitation and represents a major step in advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UK.

Prime Minister Modi hosted Starmer at Raj Bhavan at around 10 a.m. Following their meeting, the two leaders are set to participate in the India–UK CEO Forum at Jio World Centre at 1:40 p.m., and jointly address the sixth Global Fintech Fest 2025 at 2:45 p.m.

These engagements build on Modi’s activities on Wednesday, which included inaugurating the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Phase 2B stretch of Mumbai Metro Line-3, and launching the Mumbai One app—a unified digital mobility platform designed to enhance connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

During their bilateral meeting, Modi and Starmer are reviewing the ‘Vision 2035’ roadmap, a ten-year strategic plan aligned with the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in July 2024. The FTA, valued at approximately £6 billion in new investments and export gains, is expected to create over 2,200 jobs in the UK while reducing tariffs on British goods entering India. Discussions also focused on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean energy, digital innovation, education, healthcare, and climate resilience.

Both Prime Ministers will engage with leading business executives and industry experts to explore new opportunities under the proposed India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, expected to be a key pillar of future bilateral economic relations.

The Global Fintech Fest brings together innovators, regulators, central bankers, investors, and policymakers from around the world under the theme “Empowering Finance for a Better World – Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion.” The event highlights the growing synergy between technology and human insight in building a transparent, ethical, and inclusive financial ecosystem.

During his visit, PM Starmer held a series of interactions with business leaders in Mumbai, emphasizing the importance of the India-UK trade relationship. “This is the biggest trade mission that the United Kingdom has ever sent to India,” he remarked.

Highlighting the landmark FTA signed during PM Modi’s visit to the UK, Starmer described it as “really important” — the largest deal the UK has struck since leaving the European Union and one of the biggest India has ever signed. The FTA is expected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually.

Starmer also announced that three major film productions from India’s renowned Yash Raj Films (YRF) studio will be filmed in the UK starting in 2026, reinforcing the cultural ties between the two countries.