LONDON: Britain's newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning and said he was ready to conclude a free trade deal that would work for both sides, Downing Street said.
India and Britain have been negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Conservative Party-led government for more than two years, but the talks were stalled for the 14th time amid the general election cycle in both the countries.
It is now expected to be taken up by the new Labor government led by Starmer, which was voted out by an overwhelming majority this week.
According to the Downing Street readout of the UK Prime Minister-elect's Indo-Pacific-related international call on Saturday, it appears to be the first call with Modi after Japan and Australia.
"The leaders congratulated each other on their election victories and reflected on the strength of the relationship between the UK and India," a Downing Street spokesperson said.
“Discussing the free trade agreement, the Prime Minister said he is ready to make a deal that will work for both sides. The leaders hope to meet as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said.
The two sides are working towards a deal to boost the bilateral trade partnership to GBP 38.1 billion from January 2022, when Boris Johnson was British prime minister.
Negotiations have since been marred by political turmoil in Britain, leading first to the short-lived Prime Ministership of Liz Truss, followed by Rishi Sunak becoming Britain's first Indian Prime Minister.
India and Britain have been negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Conservative Party-led government for more than two years, but the talks were stalled for the 14th time amid the general election cycle in both the countries.
It is now expected to be taken up by the new Labor government led by Starmer, which was voted out by an overwhelming majority this week.
According to the Downing Street readout of the UK Prime Minister-elect's Indo-Pacific-related international call on Saturday, it appears to be the first call with Modi after Japan and Australia.
"The leaders congratulated each other on their election victories and reflected on the strength of the relationship between the UK and India," a Downing Street spokesperson said.
“Discussing the free trade agreement, the Prime Minister said he is ready to make a deal that will work for both sides. The leaders hope to meet as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said.
The two sides are working towards a deal to boost the bilateral trade partnership to GBP 38.1 billion from January 2022, when Boris Johnson was British prime minister.
Negotiations have since been marred by political turmoil in Britain, leading first to the short-lived Prime Ministership of Liz Truss, followed by Rishi Sunak becoming Britain's first Indian Prime Minister.
