India and UK Ink Major Deals in Tech, Defence, and Education; CETA Driving New Synergy
MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, concluded a pivotal bilateral meeting in Mumbai today, announcing a suite of agreements across technology, education, and defence that mark a new, dynamic phase in the India-UK strategic partnership.
Addressing a joint press statement, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that the relationship, built on shared democratic values, is now a crucial pillar of “global stability and economic progress.”
Prime Minister Modi welcomed Starmer’s visit, noting its timing, just months after the historic Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was concluded during his own visit to the UK in July.
“This agreement will reduce import costs between the two countries, create new employment opportunities for youth, boost trade, and benefit both our industries and consumers,” PM Modi stated. He also pointed out that the UK Prime Minister was accompanied by the “largest-ever business delegation,” which he called a reflection of the “new energy and broad vision” driving the partnership.
The leaders announced several new initiatives to strengthen cooperation, focusing particularly on emerging technologies and supply chain resilience:
Technology & Innovation: Key outcomes included the establishment of the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre and the India-UK Joint Centre for AI.
Critical Minerals: To secure resilient supply chains and promote green technologies, the two nations agreed to establish a Critical Minerals Industry Guild and a Supply Chain Observatory, with a satellite campus located at IIT-ISM Dhanbad.
Climate Technology: A new joint investment in the Climate Technology Startup Fund was announced to support innovators in climate, technology, and AI, alongside the formation of the India-UK Offshore Wind Taskforce.
The defence relationship also saw a significant boost with a new agreement for cooperation in military training. Prime Minister Modi announced that Flying Instructors from the Indian Air Force will now serve as trainers with the UK’s Royal Air Force.
The meeting in India’s financial capital coincided with the ongoing joint naval exercise, “Konkan 2025.”
The education sector, too, received a major fillip, with the UK Prime Minister accompanied by a large delegation from the sector. PM Modi confirmed that several UK universities are establishing campuses in India, citing the recent inauguration of the Gurugram campus of Southampton University and the ongoing construction of three other UK university campuses in GIFT City. Further, the Letter of Intent for the campus of Lancaster University in Bengaluru and in-principle approval for the University of Surrey campus in GIFT City were confirmed.
On global issues, PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent stance on the Ukraine conflict and the Gaza situation, stating that India “supports all efforts to restore peace through dialogue and diplomacy.” He concluded by calling the 1.8 million strong Indian diaspora in the UK the “living bridge” of the partnership, which is driven by “trustworthy, and driven by talent and technology.”
