UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed in Mumbai on October 8, 2025, marking his first official visit to India. He was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat. The visit, spanning two days, is set to deepen diplomatic and economic relations between the UK and India.
Starmer is accompanied by the largest trade delegation ever sent by the UK to India. During his trip, he is scheduled to meet PM Modi to discuss a range of issues including fintech, trade, defense, critical and emerging technologies, pharmaceuticals, and connectivity. Both leaders are also expected to address the Global Fintech Summit in Mumbai, highlighting the growing collaboration in the technology and finance sectors.
The visit follows the July 2025 finalization of the long-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement, which aims to enhance wages, raise living standards, and reduce costs for consumers in both countries. The agreement is also expected to benefit the Scotch whisky industry, potentially increasing exports to India by $1.1 billion annually and creating over 1,000 jobs in the UK.
In a notable gesture during his flight to Mumbai, Starmer greeted passengers on British Airways Flight 9100 from the cockpit, expressing enthusiasm for exploring opportunities under the new trade pact. He emphasized that the visit represents the biggest UK trade mission to India, aiming to maximize the benefits of the FTA.
During their upcoming discussions, Modi and Starmer are expected to review progress under the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership aligned with the Vision 2035 roadmap. The leaders will engage in diverse areas such as trade and investment, technology, defense and security, climate and energy, health, education, and people-to-people ties. Both governments aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation while addressing regional and global issues through dialogue and strategic engagement.
The visit underscores the UK’s commitment to deepening economic and diplomatic relations with India, reinforcing mutual prosperity, technological collaboration, and strengthened defense and trade ties for the coming decades.
