United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai yesterday, leading the country’s largest-ever trade mission to India with a 125-member delegation of CEOs, entrepreneurs, university vice chancellors and cultural leaders.
The two-day visit aims to strengthen post-trade deal momentum between the two countries, following the landmark UK-India trade agreement signed in July. The pact, hailed as the most comprehensive deal India has struck with any nation, will slash tariffs and boost market access for British companies across sectors.
Major firms including Rolls-Royce, British Telecom, Diageo, London Stock Exchange, and British Airways are accompanying Starmer as part of efforts to unlock investment opportunities and promote growth in both economies.
“This isn’t just a piece of paper — it’s a launchpad for growth,” Starmer said. “With India set to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028, the opportunities for British business are unparalleled.”
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle called the agreement “the best any country has ever secured with India,” noting it would place British firms “at the front of the queue” in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
The trade deal is projected to increase annual bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, with UK exports to India expected to grow nearly 60 percent. Tariffs on British goods will fall from an average of 15 percent to 3 percent, while duties on whisky will be cut from 150 percent to 75 percent immediately and then reduced further to 40 percent over a decade.
British Airways announced it will add a third daily Delhi–London flight by 2026 to meet rising demand, while Manchester Airport will introduce a new IndiGo-operated route to Delhi, generating an estimated £75 million in exports and tourism annually.
“British Airways sits at the center of increased UK-India economic activity,” said the airline’s CEO Sean Doyle. “The free trade agreement will strengthen ties built over a century.”
Fourteen UK university vice chancellors are also part of the mission, reflecting growing education partnerships as India looks to create 70 million higher education seats by 2035. Cultural leaders from institutions such as the British Film Institute and National Theatre are exploring collaborations in film, heritage, and creative industries.
The visit follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to London in July, which resulted in £6 billion in new investments and export wins. Starmer is expected to meet Modi again on Thursday to discuss expanding cooperation in technology, defense, and telecom under the UK-India Technology Security Initiative.
India’s tech sector, projected to reach £1 trillion in value by 2030, remains a key focus of the partnership. “We’re determined to seize the new opportunities this deal creates,” Starmer said. “Growth in India means jobs and prosperity at home.”
