A statement issued by the British High Commission’s office in Gujarat on Sunday, confirmed that the British PM will begin his visit on Thursday i.e April 21.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “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.”
“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,” he further added.
The British PM will meet leading businesses here and discuss UK and India’s thriving commercial, trade and people links. This will be for the first time a UK PM has visited Gujarat — India’s fifth largest state and the ancestral home of around half of the British-Indian population in the UK.
“In Gujarat, the 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,” the statement added.He will use the visit to drive progress in the Free Trade Agreement negotiations launched earlier this year – a deal with India is predicted to boost our total trade by up to £28 billion annually by 2035 and increase wages across the UK by up to £3 billion.
The Prime Minister will then travel to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Modi on Friday. 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 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.
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.
