UK PM Boris Johnson To Arrive In Gujarat For Maiden India Visit, Will Hold 'In-Depth' Talks With PM Modi

As per the British High Commission, the UK Prime Minister will also use his India visit to drive progress in the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

New Delhi: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will begin his first visit to India on Thursday (April 21) with a trip to Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state.

Johnson will become the first British Prime Minister to visit Gujarat when he lands in Ahmedabad for his two-day India visit.

In a statement, Downing Street on Saturday informed that UK PM Boris Johnson is set to hold in-depth talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and investment announcements in key industries in both the UK and India will take place, news agency PTI reported.

After Ahemadabad, Boris Johnson will proceed to New Delhi to meet PM Modi on April 22, where the focus will be on India-UK strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership.

Boris Johnson To Announce Major Investments in Gujarat

As per the British High Commission, the UK Prime Minister will also use his India visit to drive progress in the ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations launched earlier this year.

"My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence," said Boris Johnson ahead of the visit.

"As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together. India, as a major economic power and the world's largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times," he added, as quoted by PTI.

In Ahmedabad, Johnson is scheduled to meet with leading businesses and discuss the UK and India's thriving commercial, trade and people links.

Gujarat, being India's fifth-largest state, is also the ancestral home of around half of the British-Indian diaspora population in the UK.

As per the Downing Street statement, the British Prime Minister is expected to announce major investment in key industries in both the UK and India, boosting jobs and growth at home, as well as new collaboration on cutting-edge science, health and technology.

Johnson will then travel to New Delhi to meet PM Modi on Friday (April 22). "The leaders will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India's strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the Indo-Pacific," the statement said.

Free Trade Agreement

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks, set to move into their third round later this month, are expected to result in a deal predicted to boost the UK's total trade by up to 28 billion pounds (USD 36 billion) annually by 2035 and increase incomes across the UK by up to 3 billion pounds (USD 3.9 billion).

At the end of the first two rounds, four out of 26 chapters are said to have been agreed while there has been significant progress in the remaining 22 chapters of the FTA.

The two leaders are expected to put forth a timeline for the possible completion of the process, it was initially set to conclude this year.

Last year, the two prime ministers had agreed on a UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership where they announced more than 530 million pounds (USD 692 million) in investment into the UK while committing to a deeper bilateral relationship across trade, health, climate, defence and security, and connecting people.

The UK government officials noted that India was identified as a priority relationship for the UK in the 2021 Integrated Review and was invited by the UK as a guest to last year's G7 summit in Cornwall

Downing Street highlighted that the UK is leveraging post-Brexit trade opportunities with India's growing economy to drive down prices in key commodities for consumers, open opportunities for UK businesses in areas like green tech and services, and create high-wage, high-skill jobs.

The official estimates in the UK reveal that investment from Indian companies already supports 95,000 jobs across the UK, which is expected to be boosted by upcoming announcements and a future free trade deal.

PM Modi and Boris Johnson last met in person on the sidelines of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November last year.

The British Prime Minister's visit next week has been long overdue, having been cancelled twice before due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

(With Agency Inputs)