LONDON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak held discussions during the G7 summit in Hiroshima, where they assessed the progress of ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). They expressed a shared commitment to continue the negotiations at a rapid pace, aiming for an ambitious deal, as stated by Downing Street.
This meeting marked the second in-person encounter between Modi and Sunak since the G20 Summit in Indonesia last year. The leaders emphasized the deep-rooted connections and strong ties between India and the United Kingdom. Downing Street also revealed that Modi's first visit to India as the British Indian leader is expected to be for the G20 Summit in New Delhi later this year, in relation to India's G20 presidency.
A spokesperson from Downing Street stated, "The leaders reflected on the deep ties between the UK and India, rooted in our human connections, and the vital importance of democracy and fair and open trade." The spokesperson further added, "They discussed progress on a UK-India Free Trade Agreement. The leaders agreed that their teams would continue to work at pace to finalize an ambitious and mutually beneficial deal."
The discussions also encompassed the broader objectives of the G7 Summit, with Sunak expressing his full support for India's G20 Presidency, emphasizing its significance for global security and prosperity. The spokesperson confirmed Sunak's anticipation to collaborate closely with Prime Minister Modi to ensure a successful summit later this year.
During the meeting, Modi extended his warm congratulations to Sunak on the Coronation of King Charles III, in which India was represented by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) echoed similar outcomes of the meeting, emphasizing the review of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the progress made in the India-UK FTA negotiations.
The recent ninth round of FTA negotiations saw detailed discussions across various policy areas between the two nations. Harjinder Kang, Britain's Chief Negotiator for the FTA, was appointed as the country's new Trade Commissioner to South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, based in Mumbai.
Official UK government statistics indicate that India was the UK's 12th largest trading partner, accounting for 2.1% of total UK trade in the four quarters ending Q3 2022. Furthermore, Modi and Sunak agreed to enhance cooperation in multiple domains, including trade and investment, science and technology, higher education, and people-to-people relationships.
Regarding India's G20 presidency, Prime Minister Modi expressed his anticipation of welcoming Sunak to New Delhi for the G20 Summit in September. The G7 Summit concluded in Hiroshima with extensive discussions among leaders from the world's largest economies. India was invited as a guest nation to the Group of Seven, consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, and Italy, with the European Union (EU) as a non-enumerated member.