Page 2 - Uk-india

British foreign secy David Lammy launches UK-India Tech Security Initiative

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday announced a new UK-India Technology Security Initiative during his first visit to India, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders in New Delhi. According to the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the security initiative has been agreed by the National Security Advisors (NSAs) following negotiations between both countries to expand collaboration in critical and emerging technologies across priority sectors. It will set out a bold new approach for how the UK and India work together on defining technologies across telecoms, critical minerals, AI, quantum, health/biotech, advanced materials and semiconductors. The FCDO said the tech initiative is part of a wider package of announcements the UK Foreign Secretary agreed following bilateral meetings in New Delhi, including with his counterpart External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, to "refresh the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic ...

UK elections: Who is Keir Starmer and what's his vision for UK-India ties?

Keir Starmer, the Centre-Left Labour Party's leader, is the current favourite to win UK's July 4 election and replace Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister

IGF to spotlight UK-India ties as bridge between polls in both countries

The annual India Global Forum (IGF) in London is set to spotlight UK-India strategic ties bridged between general elections in both countries next month, with a line up of senior ministers, entrepreneurs and analysts weighing up the future trajectory of bilateral ties under newly elected governments. IGF London, confirmed this week to be held between June 24 and 28, will cover the full spectrum of the partnership including the course of the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. The India-UK FTA talks began in January 2022 and are now stalled in the fourteenth round of talks as both countries stepped into their general election cycles this year. Regardless of which governments come to power, a series of opportunities, and certainly challenges, await them; that's why IGF London 2024 is set to be a crucial event in the diary, serving as a major economic and geopolitical stocktake, offering vital insights and informing the strategic direction for any new administration, said Manoj ...

India, UK relationship 'force for good': UK home secretary James Cleverly

Terming the UK-India relationship a "force for good", British Home Secretary James Cleverly has said that the two countries can work to prevent conflict from spilling over and engulfing other parts of the world. Speaking at India Global Forum's 6th annual UK-India Parliamentary Lunch at the House of Lords on Wednesday, Cleverly said that the intellectual horsepower of India is enormous and getting bigger. The intellectual horsepower of India is enormous and getting bigger. Whether it is dealing with potential future pandemics or dealing with non-communicable diseases or dealing with the opportunities and risks of Artificial Intelligence or financial services or sustainable agriculture, I struggle to think of any sector where coordination and cooperation between the UK and India will not be a force for good in the world, he said. Against the backdrop of major global conflicts, and following the first visit by an Indian Defence Minister (Rajnath Singh) to Britain in 22 years, Cleverly

UK seeks customs duty concessions on EV exports in FTA with India

The UK has sought customs duty concessions on exports of electric vehicles to India under the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), which is under negotiations, an official said. However, the official said, no decision has been taken so far on the issue. There is a demand to provide concessions on a specified number of vehicles per year, the official added. The fast-growing EV market in India is catching the eyes of global players. The UK is also looking at phasing out ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles by 2035, and the British auto market is export-driven. According to experts, the UK's major export destination for vehicles is Europe, and they are looking to diversify their exports. "The UK has sought concessions on electric vehicles from India as part of the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations," the official, who did not wish to be named, said. India's electric vehicles market is expected to grow to one crore units in annual sales by 2030 and create five crore direc

UK, India scientists to collaborate in astronomy, bio-imaging technology

United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) has embarked on a collaboration with India's Department of Atomic Energy to explore opportunities to set up super computing facilities to process data from the observations made by the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope. The Science and Technology Facilities Council of the UKRI also announced initiatives to harness technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, bio-imaging and accelerator development to augment scientific research and have a tangible impact in areas such as cancer treatment. "The challenge with Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is that it produces vast amounts of data and you have to apply super computing techniques to turn that data very rapidly into things that astronomers can use. That is an area where we intend to collaborate," Mark Thomson, Executive Chairman of Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), told PTI at an event here to mark 15 years of the UKRI-India partnership. Department of ..

India, UK hold first '2+2' foreign & defence dialogue to boost cooperation

The inaugural India-UK '2+2' foreign and defence dialogue on Monday saw the two sides focusing on ways to boost cooperation in a range of key areas such as trade and investment, defence, critical technologies, civil aviation, health and energy. At the senior official-level dialogue, the two sides also discussed international developments including in the Indo-Pacific region and considered the possibility of enhancing anti-terror collaboration, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The 2+2 dialogue at senior official level is a mechanism to discuss and review all aspects of India-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. The dialogue took place as the two sides are exploring the possibility of a visit to India by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak later this month. The MEA said the two sides discussed "possibilities for further collaboration particularly in areas of trade and investment, defence, critical and emerging technologies, civil aviation, health, energy, cultur

FTA pact with UK critical for India's ambition to become mfg powerhouse

As India and the UK inch closer to sealing a free trade agreement, a forthcoming book says the pact is critical for India's ambition to become a manufacturing powerhouse while the UK seeks to clinch new deals to highlight the benefits of Brexit. In his forthcoming book The Reverse Swing-Colonialism to Cooperation, veteran journalist Ashok Tandon noted that the Free Trade Agreement(FTA), if clinched, will come at a time when many western economies are pinning their hopes on India to become a bulwark against China's growing economic and military clout. The book by Tandon, a former PTI bureau chief in London, called the FTA a most ambitious, fair and balanced pact which would help the two countries to further enhance bilateral commerce and investments. The book is scheduled to be released here on October 18. Officials of India and the UK are holding hectic parleys to conclude the negotiations for the FTA. The talks were launched in January 2022. There are expectations that the pact cou

Strengthening ties: British companies in India register strong growth

As many as 147 companies have met the qualifying criteria and have been featured in the BMI Growth Tracker

UK, India agree pensions and insurance partnership, says British FM

Britain and India have agreed to launch partnership to boost cross-market investment by insurance and pension sectors, Britain's finance ministry said

12th round of India, UK free trade agreement talks to begin from August 7

As India and the UK are close to concluding negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA), chief negotiators of both countries will hold the 12th round of talks from August 7 here, an official said. Both sides are looking at concluding the talks before the end of the year. The main issues which could come up for discussions in this round include investment treaty, reduction of duties on auto and whiskey and matters pertaining to services, the official said. The 11th round of talks was concluded last month. For that round, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal visited London and took stock of the negotiations. Out of the total 26 chapters in the FTA, 19 have been closed. Investment is being negotiated as a separate agreement (bilateral investment treaty) between India and the UK and it would be concluded simultaneously with the free trade agreement. In the rules of origin chapters, product specific rules are being negotiated whi

Aid to India focuses on reducing carbon emissions: UK FCDO spokesperson

The Climate and Nature theme dominates the UK's bilateral aid focus for India, with 75 per cent of around GBP 38 million allocated for 2023-24 targeted at climate action projects, according to latest statistics. A UK-India development partnership summary' released by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) last week reveals that the remaining 24 per cent of the funds fall under the theme of "Bilateral Investment Partnerships (BIP)" and one per cent under "Global Health". Amid some criticism of a continued high aid allocation for a fast-growing economy such as India, the FCDO pointed out that it is on schedule to make back all the money under the development partnership model that is distinct from the traditional aid funding basis. UK aid helps India reduce its carbon emissions through commercial investments, this is not traditional development aid, an FCDO spokesperson said. We have already had GBP 100 million of our GBP 330 million spend to date returned, and ..

K Annamalai, Arman Malik take part in Young Leaders Forum in London

BJP Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai, singer-songwriter Armaan Malik, London Deputy Mayor for Business Rajesh Agrawal and prominent entrepreneurs and professionals from India and the UK came together for a Young Leaders Forum in London, which kick-started UK-India Week 2023. The annual event, organised by UK-headquartered India Global Forum (IGF) to bring together senior ministers, policymakers and business chiefs to explore bilateral ties across all spheres of collaboration over the course of six days, opened with the theme of Empowering Future Changemakers on Saturday. The student-led gathering at the Nehru Centre in London covered topics ranging from Western media perceptions of Indian democracy and prospects of dual citizenship for the Indian diaspora to employment opportunities in an artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. Democracy is heavily intertwined in our DNA, said Annamalai, in response to a question about perceptions of Indian democracy in the West. Indian polit

UK PM Rishi Sunak sets up review to change country's 'anti-maths mindset'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday announced a new experts-led review into how to ensure all pupils in England study some form of mathematics up to the age of 18 as part of his strategy to change an anti-maths mindset that is holding the country back. Delivering a speech at the London Screen Academy, Sunak lamented that it was socially acceptable to make jokes about not being able to do maths. He pointed out that for his plan to grow the UK economy in the long term, the UK simply cannot allow poor numeracy to cost the economy tens of billions a year. We say things like: Oh, maths, I can't do that, it's not for me' and everyone laughs. But we'd never make a joke like that about not being able to read. So we've got to change this anti-maths mindset, said Sunak. We've got to start prizing numeracy for what it is a key skill every bit as essential as reading. So my campaign to transform our national approach to maths is not nice to have. It's about changing how we value maths in th

UK-India trade has potential to double by 2030: UK's Dy High Commissioner

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 spoke in detail to PTI on Friday about the 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 t

PM Modi speaks to King Charles, discusses issues of mutual interest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday had a telephonic conversation with the UK's King Charles III for the first time since he assumed the throne

India trade deal offers biggest hope for UK economy heading for a crisis

It has been anything but a smooth ride for the Rishi Sunak led UK government, with the latest official data released this week reflecting a shrinking economy and a looming two-year-long recession. The British Indian former finance minister, who took charge at 10 Downing Street last month with the promise to fix the fiscal errors of predecessor Liz Truss' disastrous mini-budget, has pledged to get a grip on the soaring inflation as a priority and warned of tough tax and spending decisions ahead. Economic experts agree on the massive scale of the challenge, even as they hold out the prospect of a free trade agreement (FTA) with India as a potential generator of much-needed economic growth. The economic crisis in the UK is caused by some new and some longstanding factors, explains Dr Anna Valero, Senior Policy Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE) Centre for Economic Performance. High inflation, high interest rates and tightening fiscal policy occurs against the backdrop of .

UK completed majority of sections of free trade agreement with India

Despite economic and political turmoil, the UK has completed most of the sections of the much-awaited free trade agreement with India.Trade Department Minister Greg Hands on Wednesday said that - Britain has completed the majority of sections of a free trade agreement with India but will only sign off on the deal once happy that it is fair and reciprocal."We have already closed the majority of chapters and look forward to the next round of talks shortly. We are working towards the best deal for both sides and won't sign until we have a deal that is fair, reciprocal and ultimately in the best interests of the British people and the UK economy," Hands told parliament.He further questioned Labour Party whether they will ever support any UK trade deal as the party earlier had blocked such deals in past."Good to be back at the dispatch box today answering a Labour Urgent Question on a trade deal with India. Now a question to Labour: when will they ever support any UK trade deal? They ...

Yogi, UK-India business council chairperson discuss investment plans in UP

Chairperson of UK-India Business Council Richard Heald met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, during which the two discussed avenues for British investment in the state. During the meeting at the chief minister's official residence, Adityanath highlighted that the state provided ample opportunities for British companies to invest in any sector, including defence, electronics, information technology, and dairy. He said the government was planning to organise "Uttar Pradesh Global Investors' Summit" next year, and investment-oriented policies were being prepared for various sectors. "Uttar Pradesh is fast emerging as an attractive investment destination for the world," he said. Heald assured the United Kingdom's participation in the investors' summit as a country partner, according to an official release. The UKIBC chairperson invited Adityanath to London and requested him to meet representatives of various British companies, the release said. Heald said a be

UK's Labour Party aims to strengthen connections with Indian diaspora

The Labour Convention of Indian Organisations (LCIO) is aiming to close the gap between British Indians and the Labour Party by boosting the Indian diaspora connection