India and UK unveil roadmap to deepen trade, tech and defence ties

Mumbai — India and the United Kingdom on Thursday unveiled a broad roadmap to deepen cooperation across trade, technology, education and defence after two days of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, officials said. The announcements, made at the conclusion of Starmer’s first official visit to India on October 8 and 9, build on a comprehensive trade agreement the two countries signed in July and set out measures to fast-track its implementation.

In a joint statement, the leaders said they would expedite ratification of the India‑UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and reposition the Joint Economic and Trade Committee as the central mechanism to oversee implementation. Officials said the pact aims to expand market access across sectors such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, education, science and digital innovation, and could help double bilateral trade by 2030 if implemented as planned.

As part of the package, New Delhi and London announced the establishment of an India‑UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre, the launch of an India‑UK Joint Centre for AI and a Critical Minerals Industry Guild to bolster...