PM Modi Invites UK Counterpart Keir Starmer To India After Inking 'Historic' Trade Deal

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 19:44 IST

PM Modi invited UK PM Keir Starmer to India, calling the India-UK Free Trade Agreement historic. Modi thanked the UK for condemning the Pahalgam attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his British counterpart Keir Starmer during a meeting at Chequers Estate. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended a heartfelt invitation to his UK counterpart Keir Starmer on a state visit to India.

PM Modi, who was on a two-day state visit to UK, called the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between the two nations ‘historic’.

“Today is a historic day for India and UK bilateral relations as both the nations have signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) after many years of efforts," PM Modi said while addressing a joint press conference after the landmark trade pact was signed between the two nations.

He also expressed gratitude PM Starmer for his warm welcome.

“This agreement is not merely an economic agreement but it is a plan for shared growth and prosperity," he added.

The Prime Minister said that the Indian textile, footwear, gems and jewellery, seafood and engineering goods will get better market access in the UK through this pact. He underlined that the India’s agriculture produce and processed food industry will have new opportunities in the UK market.

PM Modi stated that the global impact of the India-UK trade agreement will also be crucial for the whole world as both will be offering stability and support as both the nations are two of the largest economies and significant democracies in the globe.

In his remarks, Starmer said it is the biggest and economically most significant trade deal that the UK has signed since leaving the European Union.

In his media statement, PM Modi further thanked the UK for its strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and said both sides are united that “there is no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism."

We agree that forces with extremist ideologies cannot be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms, he said.

Modi said security agencies of India and the UK will continue to enhance cooperation and coordination on matters such as the extradition of economic offenders.

During his two-day visit, PM Modi held wide-ranging talks with Starmer. He is also expected to meet King Charles III later in the day. From London, Modi will travel to the Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu in what is being seen as a breakthrough in the ties between the two countries following a spell of frostiness under Muizzu.

India-UK FTA

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom marks a new phase of economic collaboration, promising significant benefits for India across various sectors.

This landmark accord aims to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030 and is set to be India’s most comprehensive trade deal with a developed economy in over a decade.

The FTA is expected to benefit 99% Indian exports from tariff and will make it easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India besides boosting the overall trade basket, according to officials as reported by news agency PTI.

The trade deal, firmed up after three years of negotiations, is expected to ensure comprehensive market access for Indian goods across all sectors and India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99% of tariff lines (product categories) covering almost 100% of the trade values.

(With inputs from agencies)

London, United Kingdom (UK)

News india PM Modi Invites UK Counterpart Keir Starmer To India After Inking 'Historic' Trade Deal