This weekend, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will travel to India to continue strengthening the economic and migration partnership between the two countries. With a focus on boosting trade, creating jobs, and providing growth opportunities for British businesses, the visit is part of the UK government’s broader strategy to deliver on its commitment to improving the lives of working people in the UK.
Building on the Historic Free Trade Agreement
This visit comes shortly after the historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between the UK and India, which is expected to increase bilateral trade by over £25 billion annually. The trade deal is anticipated to boost UK GDP by £4.8 billion and raise wages by £2.2 billion each year in the long run, benefiting working people across the country. The UK government sees this FTA as just the beginning of a stronger and more diversified relationship with India, with plans to explore new opportunities for cooperation in areas like technology, climate change, and migration.
Expanding the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Lammy’s visit is a critical step toward expanding the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aimed at fostering deeper economic ties and collaboration between the two nations. The Foreign Secretary will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and other senior officials to discuss how both countries can work together to create more growth opportunities, enhance security, and promote innovation.
The UK-India partnership has already shown significant progress, and Lammy’s talks will focus on continuing to build on these successes. One major goal is increasing Indian business investment in the UK, which currently supports over 600,000 jobs in both nations. In the past year, India was the second-largest source of foreign investments in the UK, marking a strong and growing economic relationship.
Progress on Migration Cooperation
A key part of Lammy’s visit will be discussions around migration cooperation. The UK government has been working closely with India to improve border security and safeguard citizens in both countries. Migration is a top priority for the UK, and Lammy will look to strengthen this aspect of the relationship to ensure effective management of migration and enhanced border security for both nations.
The Foreign Secretary will also discuss ongoing efforts to address the challenges related to illegal working and trafficking, areas that have been of significant concern for both the UK and India. These discussions are in line with the UK’s broader goal of creating a secure, fair, and efficient migration system.
Continuing to Build Stronger Ties in Technology and Innovation
The relationship between the UK and India has grown not only in trade and migration but also in technological collaboration. Lammy will focus on building further technological partnerships, particularly in emerging fields like AI, quantum computing, telecommunications, and biotechnology. The UK-India Technology Security Initiative, launched in July last year, has already helped secure investments and promote collaboration on critical technologies.
The Foreign Secretary will also address India’s role in the UK’s industrial strategy, which aims to make doing business in the UK faster, easier, and more cost-effective. By fostering closer ties with Indian businesses, the UK government aims to create a more dynamic and globally competitive economy.
Promoting Cultural and People-to-People Ties
In addition to economic and migration discussions, the Foreign Secretary will highlight the cultural cooperation between the two countries. The UK and India recently signed the UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation, which aims to enhance collaboration across the arts, creative industries, tourism, and sports sectors. This agreement will increase UK creative exports to India and foster stronger cultural ties, helping to grow the UK’s soft power in the region.
Addressing Regional Tensions and Promoting Stability
The Foreign Secretary’s visit also comes at a time of heightened tensions in certain parts of India. Lammy is expected to address the recent escalation following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and discuss how both nations can work together to support peace and stability in the region. This will be an important part of the discussions as the UK and India look to promote long-term regional stability and security.
David Lammy’s visit to India this weekend marks an important milestone in the UK’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. By focusing on economic, migration, and technological partnerships, the UK is positioning itself as a key player in India’s future growth. This visit is just the beginning of a new era of collaboration between the two countries, one that promises to bring benefits to both the UK and India in terms of trade, innovation, and security.
