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Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Modi and Starmer ink trade deal
UK premier hails 'unique bonds' with India LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Britain's 'unique bonds' with India as he and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi formally signed a recently announced UK-India trade deal during talks on Thursday. Starmer hailed the agreement as a 'landmark moment' for both countries as he hosted India's leader at his Chequers country estate, northwest of London. 'This is not the extent or the limit of our collaboration with India,' added the British premier, whose year-old government is struggling to fire up an economy weakened by years of stagnant growth and high inflation. 'We have unique bonds of history, of family and of culture and we want to strengthen our relationship further, so that it is even more ambitious, modern and focused on the long term,' he said. Starmer and Modi announced in May they had struck a free trade agreement that the British government says will eventually add £4.8 billion ($6.5 billion) a year to the UK economy. The UK and India hope the accord will boost trade between the two countries by £25.5 billion, as well as bolstering the British economy and wages. Modi, standing alongside Starmer during a media appearance, described the deal as a 'blueprint for our shared prosperity'. Britain and India are the sixth and fifth largest global economies respectively, with a trade relationship worth around £41 billion and investment supporting more than 600,000 jobs across both countries. The accord slashes tariffs on imports of UK goods into India, including whisky, cosmetics and medical devices. In return, the United Kingdom will cut tariffs on clothes, footwear and food products including frozen prawns from India. Starmer and Modi were also likely to discuss last month's Air India disaster in which 241 people died when a London-bound flight crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad in western India. Some 169 Indian passengers and 52 British nationals were killed in the June 12 crash, one of the deadliest plane disasters in terms of the number of British fatalities. A lawyer for 20 British families said this week the repatriation of victims had been marred by errors with one relative finding that a returned coffin contained 'co-mingled' remains. A different family was told a coffin contained the body of someone else entirely, not their loved one, he said, according to UK media. India's foreign ministry has said all remains 'were handled with utmost professionalism' and that it is 'continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue'. Another tricky topic of discussion could be that of Scottish Sikh blogger Jagtar Singh Johal, imprisoned in India since 2017 on accusations of being part of a terror plot against right-wing Hindu leaders. He has not been convicted of a crime and in March was cleared of one of the nine charges against him. His brother Gurpreet Singh Johal said in a statement the case 'should be high on the agenda' during the two leaders' meeting. Starmer and Modi have met twice recently, at the G7 summit in Canada last month and at the G20 meeting in Brazil last year. Modi was also due to see King Charles III during his brief stay in Britain, his fourth visit since becoming India's leader in 2014. —AFP
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
UK and India sign landmark trade deal boosting economic ties
LONDON: Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indian counterpart Narendra Modi formalised a major trade deal during talks at Chequers, marking a significant step in UK-India economic relations. The agreement, first announced in May, aims to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion while supporting jobs and investment in both countries. Starmer called the deal a 'landmark moment,' emphasising the deep historical and cultural ties between the UK and India. 'We have unique bonds of history, of family and of culture,' he said. 'This agreement is a blueprint for our shared prosperity.' The deal reduces tariffs on key exports, including British whisky and medical devices entering India, while the UK will lower duties on Indian textiles, footwear, and seafood. Government estimates suggest the agreement could add £4.8 billion annually to the UK economy. Modi highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership, stating, 'This is not just about trade but about building a stronger future together.' Both leaders also discussed the recent Air India tragedy, where 241 passengers, including 52 Britons, died in a crash last month. Starmer assured Modi of continued UK support for affected families. Controversies surrounding the repatriation of victims' remains were not directly addressed in official statements. A lawyer representing British families claimed some coffins contained mixed or incorrect remains, though India's foreign ministry maintained that all procedures were handled professionally. The meeting did not publicly address the case of Scottish Sikh blogger Jagtar Singh Johal, detained in India since 2017 without conviction. His family had urged Starmer to raise the issue. Modi's visit included a planned meeting with King Charles III, reinforcing diplomatic ties. This marks his fourth UK trip since taking office in 2014. - AFP
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Modi visits UK to sign trade deal with Starmer amid key talks
LONDON: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Britain on Thursday to sign a major trade deal with UK counterpart Keir Starmer, marking his fourth visit since taking office in 2014. The agreement, announced in May, aims to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion and add £4.8 billion annually to the UK economy. Starmer called the deal a 'major win for Britain,' as his government seeks to revive an economy weakened by stagnant growth and inflation. The pact will reduce tariffs on UK exports like whisky and medical devices while lowering duties on Indian textiles and seafood. Modi, who met King Charles III during his trip, highlighted the growing economic partnership, stating it would 'foster prosperity, growth, and job creation in both countries.' The UK and India, the world's fifth and sixth largest economies, share trade ties worth £41 billion, supporting over 600,000 jobs. Beyond trade, discussions are expected to address the June Air India crash that killed 241 people, including 52 British nationals. Families of victims have raised concerns over misidentified remains, with legal representatives urging Starmer to seek clarity. Another sensitive topic is the case of Scottish Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal, detained in India since 2017 on terror charges without conviction. His brother urged Starmer to prioritize the issue during talks. Modi and Starmer previously met at G7 and G20 summits, reinforcing diplomatic ties ahead of this pivotal economic agreement. - AFP
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
India's Modi flies to UK to sign trade deal with Starmer
LONDON - Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to Britain on Thursday where the pair will sign a recently announced UK-India trade deal. Modi will also meet King Charles III during his brief stay in Britain, his fourth visit since becoming India's leader in 2014. Starmer and Modi are also likely to discuss last month's Air India disaster in which 241 people died when a London-bound flight crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad in western India. The British leader is also facing calls to raise the case of a Scottish Sikh activist jailed in India seven years ago on terror charges. Starmer and Modi announced in May they had struck a free trade agreement that the British government says will eventually add £4.8 billion ($6.5 billion) a year to the UK economy. "Our landmark trade deal with India is a major win for Britain," Starmer said in a statement late Wednesday. Starmer's year-old government is struggling to fire up an economy weakened by years of stagnant growth and high inflation. The UK and India hope the accord will boost trade between the two countries by £25.5 billion, as well as bolstering the British economy and wages. Britain and India are the sixth and fifth largest global economies respectively, with a trade relationship worth around £41 billion and investment supporting more than 600,000 jobs across both countries. As he left India on Wednesday, Modi said the partnership had "achieved significant momentum in the last few years". "We will have the opportunity to further enhance our economic partnership, aimed at fostering prosperity, growth and jobs creation in both countries," he added. The accord will slash tariffs on imports of UK goods into India, including whisky, cosmetics and medical devices. In return, the UK will cut tariffs on clothes, footwear and food products including frozen prawns from India. AIR INDIA CRASH On June 12, some 169 Indian passengers and 52 British nationals were killed in the Air India crash, one of the deadliest plane disasters in terms of the number of British fatalities. A lawyer for 20 British families expects Starmer to raise claims that some of the remains of victims were wrongly identified. James Healy-Pratt told the Press Association that relatives of one victim found that the coffin contained "co-mingled" remains. A different family were told a coffin contained the body of someone else entirely, not their loved one, the agency reported on Wednesday. Another tricky topic of discussion could be that of blogger Jagtar Singh Johal, imprisoned in India since 2017 on accusations of being part of a terror plot against right-wing Hindu leaders. He has not been convicted of a crime and in March was cleared of one of the nine charges against him. His brother Gurpreet Singh Johal said in a statement the case "should be high on the agenda" when the two leaders meet. Starmer and Modi have met twice recently, at the G7 summit in Canada last month and at the G20 meeting in Brazil last year.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
MPs call for 'quick' action to free Jagtar Singh Johal
More than 100 MPs and peers have written to the foreign secretary calling for "quick and decisive" action to secure the release of a Scottish Sikh man in prison in Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, was arrested in November 2017 in connection with terror-related has not been convicted of any crime and in March was cleared in one of nine cases against Foreign Office has been approached for comment and has previously said the UK government remains committed to working for faster progress on the case. Mr Johal's family and legal team had hoped India's Supreme Court would issue a ruling on Thursday on whether he would be granted bail but they say there was no decision and no timeframe for the matter to be Johal is accused of being a member of a terror group, the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), which has carried out attacks in the Punjab region. The charges against him stated that he travelled to Paris in 2013 and delivered £3,000 to other KLF figures, with the money then used to purchase weapons which were used in a series of murders and attacks against Hindu nationalist and other religious leaders across 2016 and Johal claims he was tortured in the early days of his detention and forced to make a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been signed by cross-party MPs and says there is a "window of opportunity" to secure Jagtar's release following his acquittal in one of the cases against letter says: "The judgement on the evidence led is crucial and relevant to securing his release, because it is the same evidence that exists in the other outstanding federal court cases."The 38-year-old's family says the Lammy has agreed to meet them on 8 have repeatedly called for the UK government to do more to secure his release through diplomatic channels with the Indian government. 'Wasted years' Mr Johal's brother Gurpreet Singh Johal, who is also a Labour councillor, said: "I'm glad the foreign secretary is meeting me again, as it shows he recognises that this is a make-or-break moment for Jagtar. "The case against my brother has been tested in court and rejected, but the Indian authorities will keep him in prison for decades if the UK government doesn't act to secure his release. "We've seen that today at the Supreme Court – just the latest in an endless series of delays. This is the moment of truth for David Lammy: will he live up to his promises, or will he fail Jagtar like the last six foreign secretaries did?"Dan Dolan, deputy executive director of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Reprieve, said it was time for the government to said: "The previous UK government wasted years of Jagtar Singh Johal's life, hiding behind the fiction that due process is possible in a case based on a torture confession. "This is a politically motivated prosecution of a young British human rights defender, and the process is the punishment."The letter to Lammy was issued by the Labour MP for Jagtar's constituency, Douglas McAllister, who said the cross-party support was very significant. He said: "The failure to grant bail to my constituent, Jagtar Singh Johal, serves to demonstrate the need for greater urgency by the foreign secretary and the UK government to secure my constituent's immediate release and his return to his family in West Dunbartonshire. "I will be advising the foreign secretary when we meet next week of the strength of feeling across both houses that now is the time to act."The Indian government has repeatedly denied that Mr Johal was mistreated and has said due process has been followed in the case against him.
