India and the United Kingdom are set to give fresh momentum to their partnership across trade, technology, energy and health as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives in India tomorrow, October 8, for his first bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit is expected to build on the recently concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and take forward collaboration in innovation, clean energy, defence and healthcare.
Focus on trade and investment
The new trade pact between India and the UK, which allows duty-free access to almost 99 per cent of Indian exports by value, is expected to give a major push to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It will also support jobs across key sectors such as textiles, leather, marine products, sports goods, gems and jewellery.
The agreement opens new opportunities for Indian exporters in engineering goods, auto components and organic chemicals. Together, Indian and British companies already employ more than 650,000 people in each other’s countries, reflecting the strength of their economic engagement. Officials say the focus now is on building resilient supply chains and promoting sustainable growth through greater trade and investment flows.
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Expanding cooperation in clean energy
Clean energy continues to be a cornerstone of India-UK relations. Both nations are joining hands on projects in offshore wind, green hydrogen and grid upgrades – initiatives that are not only cutting emissions but also making cleaner power more affordable and accessible.
The partnership is also encouraging local manufacturing, from turbine and electrolyser production to transmission upgrades that strengthen the power network. In addition, pilot initiatives in energy storage, smart metering and industrial decarbonisation aim to lower electricity costs and cut urban pollution over time, while creating skilled jobs in both countries.
Strengthening innovation and healthcare ties
India and the UK are stepping up their partnership in healthcare and science through deeper research and technology collaborations. A new UK–India ‘FemTech’ initiative is helping develop women-focused health solutions while nurturing start-ups working on diagnostics and medical devices.
These joint efforts have already led to new patents, the creation of indigenous medical technologies and hundreds of research fellowships – all helping to retain top talent in India and bring lab innovations to real-world use. The two countries’ successful vaccine collaboration during the pandemic remains a powerful example of what they can achieve together – blending UK innovation with India’s production strength to deliver affordable healthcare at scale.
