October 7, 2025
MUMBAI – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is scheduled to arrive in India on October 8, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will attend the sixth edition of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai on October 9, where they will engage with industry experts, policymakers and innovators, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
They will deliver keynote addresses at the event, as part of the official engagements of the UK PM’s first official visit to India from October 8 to October 9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MEA stated.
Starmer’s visit to India comes two-and-half months after the two countries inked a free trade agreement (FTA) recently. On May 6, PM Modi and his UK counterpart had announced the successful conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK FTA, after three years of negotiations. The comprehensive agreement aims to eliminate or cut tariffs on imports and exports between the two nations. Both the nations wish to increase their trade to $120 billion by 2030.
It is expected to boost key sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, sports goods and toys, marine products, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, auto parts and engines, and organic chemicals.
It may be recalled that on July 24, the much-awaited landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement was signed. PM Modi called it a historic day, as “after years of hard work, both nations have completed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement”.
Both leaders will engage with businesses and industry leaders on the opportunities presented by the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement as a central pillar of the future India-UK economic partnership.
During the visit, Starmer and PM Modi are scheduled meet in Mumbai on October 9 to take stock of progress in diverse aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with ‘Vision 2035’, a focussed and time bound 10-year roadmap of programmes and initiatives in key pillars of trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education and people to people relations.
Both leaders will engage with businesses and industry leaders on opportunities presented by the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a central pillar of the future India-UK economic partnership. They will exchange views on issues of regional and global importance.
The two leaders are also expected to exchange their views on issues of regional and global importance. They are also expected to exchange notes on the situation in the Gaza Strip, after US President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end the war, with Starmer’s Labour predecessor and former UK PM Tony Blair, part of the Gaza governance body Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), which will rebuild the region after the war ends.
The visit will build on the momentum and substance generated by PM Modi’s visit to the UK in July 2025. It will provide a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the UK to build a forward-looking partnership, according to the MEA.