While Modi invited Sunak for G20 Summit to be held in Sept 2023, Sunak appreciated the progress made under India’s Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UK’s full support…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak in which they reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030 and agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors. PM Modi raised the issue of the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements by the UK Government.
Rishi Sunak conveyed that the UK considers the attack on Indian High Commission totally unacceptable and assured of the security of the Indian Mission and its personnel. Modi also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK. He sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system, a PMO release said.
Modi invited PM Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. The UK Prime Minister appreciated the progress made under India’s Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UK’s full support to India’s initiatives and their success. PM conveyed greetings to Sunak and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi. The two leaders agreed to remain in contact.
“Pleased to speak with UK PM Rishi Sunak. Extended Baisakhi greetings to him, and new year greetings to the vibrant Indian community in the UK. We reviewed progress on a number of issues to further strengthen India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including FTA,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
“We also agreed on the need to take strong action against anti-India elements and to ensure the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK. We also discussed the issue of economic offenders,” he added. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had spoken on Free Trade Agreements during her visit to Washington and said that FTAs are being signed in a much “faster” way nowadays.
She said that India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations are “going on as we speak.” British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott had said that negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between India and the United Kingdom are continuing and both countries are “determined” to work together. Earlier, the government conveyed its concerns on the misuse of the UK’s asylum status by pro-Khalistani elements to carry out terrorist activities in India while asking British authorities to increase “monitoring” and take “appropriate proactive” action during the fifth India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue (HAD) held in Delhi.
Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla led the talks on India’s behalf while the UK delegation was led by permanent secretary, home office, Sir Matthew Rycroft, with senior officers of both countries present.
“During the meeting both sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation and identified further steps that can be taken to explore opportunities and synergies in advancing cooperation in counterterrorism, cyber security and global supply chains, drug trafficking, migration, extradition, anti-India activities in the UK including pro-Khalistan extremism, among other issues,” a statement issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said.
“The Indian side specifically conveyed its concerns on the misuse of UK’s asylum status by pro-Khalistani elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India and requested better cooperation with the UK and increased monitoring of UK-based pro-Khalistan extremists and take appropriate proactive action,” the MHA said. India’s concerns, the ministry added, over the breach of security at the Indian high commission were also emphasised.
UK-India trade has potential to double by 2030
Notwithstanding the impact of Russia’s war with Ukraine, the UK and India are heading towards an era of positive engagement in trade and business relations, with steps underway to promote mutual investments in both the nations, British Deputy High Commissioner in charge of Kerala and Karnataka Chandru Iyer said. Iyer who is also UK’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia said trade and investments between the UK and India and said there was potential to double the business by 2030. He was in the state to take part in various official engagements, including a meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and also in connection with the port of call made by the British Royal Navy’s frigate ship, HMS Lancaster, at Kochi.
Calling war a global phenomenon that affects all countries in more ways than one, the British Deputy High Commissioner hailed entrepreneurs for being enterprising and resilient in the face of adversity. “If you look at the flow of business or the trade numbers between the UK and India for the period ending Q4 of last year, the number stood at 34 billion British pounds. For the same period ending the year before last, it was around 19 billion pounds. So it’s been a big jump in trade and business,” Iyer said.
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