UK PM Starmer to Visit India Next Week, Hold Talks with PM Modi in Mumbai

New Delhi — United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer will embark on a two-day official visit to India starting October 8 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday. This marks Starmer’s first official visit to India.

During the visit, the two leaders will meet in Mumbai on October 9 to review progress on the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under Vision 2035, a 10-year roadmap covering trade and investment, technology, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education, and people-to-people relations.

The leaders are expected to engage with businesses and industry leaders on opportunities under the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a key pillar of bilateral economic cooperation, and exchange views on regional and global issues.

Starmer and Modi will also attend the 6th Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, delivering keynote addresses and interacting with innovators, policymakers, and industry experts.

The MEA noted that the visit builds on the momentum from PM Modi’s July 2025 visit to the UK, where both leaders signed CETA, elevated the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and agreed on a Double Contribution Convention to boost competitiveness and reduce business costs.

The two sides have also finalized a Defence Industrial Roadmap, promoting co-design, co-development, and co-production of defence products, while continuing regular armed forces engagement, reflecting a deepening defence and security partnership.

With inputs from IANS