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LONDON: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reaffirmed his commitment to a “really ambitious” free trade agreement with India and indicated his plans to visit New Delhi for a G20 summit in September.
Sunak, who hosted a special reception to celebrate the UK and India Week 2023 of the Global India Forum at 10 Downing Street Park in London, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed there was huge potential to intensify bilateral trade ties.
The 43-year-old Indo-British leader interacted with business leaders and celebrities, including boxing champion Mary Kom, musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, and Bollywood stars Sonam Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi, on Wednesday night as part of what he described as a “big moment” in the duo’s calendar. and the beginning of an Indian summer for the UK.
“Prime Minister Modiji and I agree that there is huge potential here. We are making great progress together on the 2030 roadmap and want to strike a really ambitious trade deal that benefits both our countries, and offers huge opportunities for businesses and consumers, both in India and here at home,” Sunak said. .
“It’s not just UK and India week, but it’s a whole Indian summer. And I don’t just mean the hot weather we’re in, I mean for the next few weeks, the eyes of the world will be on India. There’s a G20 in New Delhi, and I can’t wait to be there.
India and the UK recently concluded the 10th round of FTA negotiations and the 11th round is scheduled to start in the next few weeks.
At the UK India Week reception, the British Prime Minister was joined by his wife Akshata Murti and joked that the garden party was also in honor of his mother Sudha Murti, who is visiting from India.
“There is so much to celebrate. The bonds between our two countries are closer than ever before. Just look at His Majesty’s coronation. On that most historic day, people of Indian heritage were at the center of the proceedings, offering coronation regalia and as part of the delegation of religious leaders.”
It demonstrates the depth of the bonds we share, the living bridge between our two countries, the thriving trade links, the flow of ideas and investments, all stronger than ever. But of course, we want to do more.
“Here we are, in Downing Street, with a Prime Minister of Indian heritage, with you all at the top, leaders in your fields who are showing that anything is possible. So, let’s keep raising our horizons and let’s keep setting boundaries as we build this partnership,” Sunak added. , using the metaphor of cricket as he also referred to the Cricket World Cup that India will host later this year as “the biggest event ever”.
The fifth annual UK-India Global India Forum (IGF), which runs until Friday, brings together ministers, business leaders and policymakers to deliberate on key sectors of focus in the bilateral relationship.
“We are all here, from diverse backgrounds, experiences and journeys, but what unites us is our passion and our contribution to furthering what I describe as a winning partnership between the UK and India,” said Manoj Ladua, Founder of IGF.
Sunak, who hosted a special reception to celebrate the UK and India Week 2023 of the Global India Forum at 10 Downing Street Park in London, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed there was huge potential to intensify bilateral trade ties.
The 43-year-old Indo-British leader interacted with business leaders and celebrities, including boxing champion Mary Kom, musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, and Bollywood stars Sonam Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi, on Wednesday night as part of what he described as a “big moment” in the duo’s calendar. and the beginning of an Indian summer for the UK.
“Prime Minister Modiji and I agree that there is huge potential here. We are making great progress together on the 2030 roadmap and want to strike a really ambitious trade deal that benefits both our countries, and offers huge opportunities for businesses and consumers, both in India and here at home,” Sunak said. .
“It’s not just UK and India week, but it’s a whole Indian summer. And I don’t just mean the hot weather we’re in, I mean for the next few weeks, the eyes of the world will be on India. There’s a G20 in New Delhi, and I can’t wait to be there.
India and the UK recently concluded the 10th round of FTA negotiations and the 11th round is scheduled to start in the next few weeks.
At the UK India Week reception, the British Prime Minister was joined by his wife Akshata Murti and joked that the garden party was also in honor of his mother Sudha Murti, who is visiting from India.
“There is so much to celebrate. The bonds between our two countries are closer than ever before. Just look at His Majesty’s coronation. On that most historic day, people of Indian heritage were at the center of the proceedings, offering coronation regalia and as part of the delegation of religious leaders.”
It demonstrates the depth of the bonds we share, the living bridge between our two countries, the thriving trade links, the flow of ideas and investments, all stronger than ever. But of course, we want to do more.
“Here we are, in Downing Street, with a Prime Minister of Indian heritage, with you all at the top, leaders in your fields who are showing that anything is possible. So, let’s keep raising our horizons and let’s keep setting boundaries as we build this partnership,” Sunak added. , using the metaphor of cricket as he also referred to the Cricket World Cup that India will host later this year as “the biggest event ever”.
The fifth annual UK-India Global India Forum (IGF), which runs until Friday, brings together ministers, business leaders and policymakers to deliberate on key sectors of focus in the bilateral relationship.
“We are all here, from diverse backgrounds, experiences and journeys, but what unites us is our passion and our contribution to furthering what I describe as a winning partnership between the UK and India,” said Manoj Ladua, Founder of IGF.
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