British PM Rishi Sunak Eager To Strike 'Truly Ambitious' Trade Deal With India

The British prime minister interacted with business leaders and celebrities, including Mary Kom, Zakir Hussain and Sonam Kapoor, as part of what he dubbed as the start of an Indian summer for UK

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday said that he wanted to strike a “truly ambitious” free trade agreement (FTA) with India during a special reception to celebrate India Global Forum’s UK-India Week 2023 in the garden of 10 Downing Street in London. Sunak said that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed that there is a huge potential in it. He dubbed UK-India Week as the start of an Indian summer for the UK, Sunak was joined at the garden party by wife Akshata Murty and mother-in-law Sudha Murty.

“Prime Minister (Narendra) Modiji and I agree there’s huge potential here. We’re making great progress together on the 2030 roadmap and we want to strike a truly ambitious trade deal that benefits both our nations, bringing tremendous opportunities to businesses and consumers, both in India and here at home,” Sunak was quoted by PTI. 

“It’s not just UK-India Week, but a whole Indian summer,” he said.

The 43-year-old British Indian leader interacted with business leaders and celebrities, including boxing champion Mary Kom, musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, and Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor during the reception.

India Global Forum's (IGF) fifth annual UK-India Week, which runs until Friday, brings together ministers, business leaders and policymakers to deliberate on the key sectors of focus within the bilateral relationship.

“We are all here, from such diverse backgrounds, experiences and journeys, yet what unites us is our passion and contribution to enhancing what I describe as the winning partnership between the UK and India,” said IGF founder Manoj Ladwa.

Last week, Sunak hailed the UK-India partnership, calling it "a defining one for our times,” informed an official release. He praised the role of IGF in fostering closer ties between India and the United Kingdom, Sunak said the event is a catalyst for forging new trade ties.

"India Global Forum's annual UK-India Week is a highly anticipated fixture in the bilateral calendar of our two great nations. It is a catalyst for forging new trade ties, lasting collaborations and a better future for our people. I am confident this partnership will be a defining one for our times," the British PM was quoted by PTI.