New Delhi: Seema Malhotra, UK Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific region, began her first official visit to India on Thursday to promote the recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries and strengthen cooperation under the joint UK-India Vision 2035, the British Embassy said in a press statement.
The visit comes shortly after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s trade mission to India and is aimed at strengthening trade ties, boosting investment flows and expanding cooperation in technology, education and skills.
Trade between the two countries continues to grow. India’s merchandise exports to the UK rose 11.7% to $14.5 billion in FY25, while imports rose 2.3% to $8.6 billion, taking total trade to $23.1 billion, up 8% from $21.39 billion in FY24 exports were at 12.98 billion dollars and imports at 8.4 billion dollars.
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A landmark free trade agreement between India and the United Kingdom was signed on July 24 in London during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is the most comprehensive free trade agreement signed by the UK in the post-Brexit Indo-Pacific region and adds to India’s growing portfolio of bilateral trade agreements, including those with Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
During his three-day itinerary, Malhotra will meet UK businesses operating in Chennai and Bengaluru – including Tesco, Revolut and BT – to understand how the FTA supports their operations and helps drive investment back to the UK.
Describing the visit as a reflection of the importance the UK places on its partnership with India, Malhotra said the reinvigorated relationship was already creating jobs, fostering innovation and bringing investment to both economies.
Malhotra also emphasized her personal connection to the visit, describing it as significant for a British minister of Indian origin.
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In Bengaluru, Malhotra will announce the return of the British Council’s Women in STEM Scholarship program to South Asia, including India, after a one-year hiatus. The program offers a fully-funded one-year master’s degree at leading UK universities – covering tuition fees, travel, living costs and insurance – with 10 scholarships worth £400,000 allocated to the region for 2026-27.
The Minister will meet Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil and Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar to discuss cooperation in advanced manufacturing, research and skill development. She will meet Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa in Chennai to explore opportunities in green technology, innovation-driven investment and future-oriented skills.
Trade experts said the visit reflected how quickly both sides wanted to translate the text FTA between India and Great Britain from political announcement to real economic gains.
“The UK minister’s visit shows how quickly both sides want to operationalize the FTA. With the elimination of tariffs on almost all Indian exports, the deal will significantly improve India’s competitiveness in the UK market,” said Abhash Kumar, a trade economist and assistant professor of economics at the University of Delhi.
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The FTA promises to unlock major economic gains for India by eliminating 99% of tariffs. Indian exportcovering almost 100% of the trade value. Indian businesses will benefit from duty-free access to the UK, including exports of textiles, footwear, carpets, automobiles and marine products, which currently face tariffs of 4-16%. The UK will see duty cuts in India on luxury goods such as Scotch whiskey and premium cars.
The free trade agreement – formally known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – seeks to increase bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030 by eliminating or significantly reducing tariffs on a wide range of products.
