'Will introduce FTA between India & UK' says Prime Minister Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India and the UK are working on closing the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of the year.

Addressing the joint media address after the bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held at Hyderabad House, Modi said, "Recently we have concluded FTA talks with UAE and Australia. We wish to go for FTA with the UK with the same spirit and commitment.

"Last year, we established the strategic partnership and we have added the important Roadmap-2030 and during our talks, we reviewed the progress made in this direction and also set some goals," Modi said.

He further said both countries have decided to enhance cooperation in the defence sector. "We welcome the UK as support in manufacturing, technology, design and development and other sectors for Aatmanirbhar Bharat," Modi said.

Referring to the recent reforms initiated by India in the infrastructure modernization plan and National Infrastructure Pipeline, Modi said that India welcomes the increasing investments here by the UK companies and "we have seen such an example in Halol in Gujarat on Thursday. Around 1.6 million UK nationals of Indian origin have been making a positive contribution to the Indian economy and society as well. We are proud of those people of Indian origin, we want to further strengthen this bridge and in this direction, Prime Minister Johnson has personally helped a lot, I greet him for this," the Indian Prime Minister said.

He also said that India has shown its commitment to fulfil the commitments made in COP-26 in Glasgow and decided to

further enhance the partnership for climate and energy. "I invite the UK to join India's National Hydrogen Mission and express my gratitude for setting up Strategic Tech Dialogue between the two countries," Modi said.

"The conclusion of the implementation arrangements of the Global Innovation Partnership will prove to be a very important initiative between us today. This will further strengthen our partnership with other countries. Under this, India and the UK

will co-finance up to $100 million for the transfer and scaling-up of 'Made in India' innovations to third countries.

"These will also help in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and efforts to tackle climate change. This will prove to be very useful for our startups and MSME sector to explore new markets, and to globalize their innovations," Modi said.

"We also discussed the many developments taking place at the regional and global level. We emphasized maintaining the Indo-Pacific region based on a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order," the Indian Prime Minister said.

Earlier, while addressing the media, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "I felt like Sachin Tendulkar upon my arrival and also felt like Amitabh Bachchan when I saw hoardings everywhere." (IANS)

Also Read: Centre Mulls To Penalise Companies For Electric Scooter Fires

Also Watch: Petrol Sold For Re 1/Litre In Maharashtra's Solapur