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Starmer Presses Fast UKIndia Trade Deal Rollout as £1.3bn Investment Pledges Announced in Mumbai

The July agreement is signed but awaits ratification, with both governments targeting it to take effect within the next year.

Overview

  • Visiting Mumbai, Keir Starmer urged officials to implement the UKIndia free trade agreement "as quickly as humanly possible" during a two-day trip.
  • During the UK's largest trade mission to India, Downing Street said 64 Indian companies pledged about £1.3bn of investment in Britain, with the government citing thousands of prospective jobs.
  • The 125-strong delegation includes business leaders, university heads and cultural figures, reflecting a push to turn tariff cuts and market access into concrete deals.
  • Starmer ruled out changes to UK visa policy as part of the deal, saying the focus is on business partnerships and investment rather than increased migration routes.
  • UK officials said they are raising the detention case of British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal with Indian authorities, while separate announcements covered planned new flights and three Bollywood films to be shot in the UK from next year.