NEW DELHI: On Friday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi evaluated the Roadmap 2030’s progress. The roadmap calls for enhancing defense and trade cooperation as well as bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.
The two leaders got together during a side meeting during the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, where PM Modi was taking part in an outreach program centered on energy and artificial intelligence. They had not met since Sunak went to India for the G20 Summit in September of last year.
Modi and Sunak Review Progress on Roadmap 2030: Strengthening India-UK Strategic Partnership
According to a readout from the external affairs ministry, Modi and Sunak talked about how Roadmap 2030 is being implemented and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in every aspect of their bilateral comprehensive strategic relationship.
This covers crucial and advanced technology industries, people-to-people relationships, trade and economic cooperation, defense and security, and frequent high-level political meetings.
Five pillars comprise the Roadmap 2030, which was finalized in May 2021 and includes political connections, commerce, migration and mobility, defense and security, climate change, and health.
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Modi and Sunak Discuss Progress and Challenges in Free Trade Agreement Negotiations
Without providing any information, the readout stated that Modi and Sunak “expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the two countries.” They talked about global and regional issues as well.
Despite fourteen rounds of negotiations, the two sides have not been able to resolve differences over key issues like market access, tariffs on British scotch whisky and cars, and increased mobility for Indian professionals and students.
The Indian side is delaying the signature of the FTA until after a new government is established in London, as it is largely anticipated that Sunak’s Conservative Party would perform poorly in the forthcoming UK election in July.
After the meeting, Modi said in a post on X: “I reiterated my commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the third term of the NDA Government. There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector.”
Sunak congratulated Modi on winning a third term, and the two leaders reiterated India’s and the UK’s shared resolve to deepen bilateral relations. In light of the UK’s upcoming general election next month, Modi sent his best wishes to the people of that country.
