Mumbai: United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday lauded India’s economic progress, calling its growth story “remarkable”. Addressing the India-UK CEO Forum in Mumbai Starmer expressed his conviction that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047 is on track to succeed and stated that the UK wishes to be a partner in that journey.
“It is significant that we are meeting in Mumbai as India’s economic and financial capital because India’s growth story is remarkable” Starmer said during his first visit to India as Prime Minister. “Everything I have seen since I have been here is absolute proof to me that you are on track to succeed in that. We want to be partners on that journey”.
Starmer who is leading the UK’s largest-ever trade delegation to India congratulated PM Modi on his leadership and the nation’s goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2028. He stressed that the historic UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in July was a “breakthrough moment” that goes beyond just slashing tariffs to build confidence for the two nations to work more closely together.
The British Prime Minister’s endorsement of India’s economic trajectory comes as the two nations deepen their strategic and trade ties. Starmer’s visit just months after the CETA was signed is seen as a move to build on the momentum of the trade pact, which is the biggest deal the UK has struck since leaving the European Union and the largest ever for India.
PM Modi in his address, described the India-UK relationship as a “crucial foundation for global stability and economic progress” in an uncertain world. The visit has already yielded significant results with 64 Indian companies announcing investments of over £1 billion into the UK, expected to create nearly 7,000 jobs. Starmer emphasized that growth for British businesses in India translates to more jobs back home in the UK.
