Starmer in Mumbai for Key India Trade Talks

MUMBAI, India, October 8, 2025 — UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai this morning. This visit is his first official trip to India as Prime Minister. The high-profile, two-day trip focuses on implementing the new UK-India trade deal. Overall, this visit aims to strengthen the strategic relationship between the two nations.

Prime Minister Starmer leads a powerful business delegation. In fact, over 125 leading CEOs, entrepreneurs, and university vice-chancellors joined him. This large group highlights the mission’s strong focus on commerce and investment. Starmer stressed that the recent Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a “launchpad for growth.”

Trade and Technology Lead Discussions

Crucially, bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi form the key event. They will meet in Mumbai on Thursday. During the meeting, both leaders will review progress on the ‘Vision 2035’ roadmap. This plan outlines a decade of cooperation in defense, technology, and health.

The core purpose of the trip remains economic advancement. Therefore, both leaders will attend the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest. This event provides a platform to engage industry leaders and innovators directly. They intend to explore new opportunities presented by the landmark CETA trade deal. Consequently, officials project the trade pact could significantly boost the $56 billion bilateral trade volume.

Focus on Strategic Commitments

The discussions will move beyond purely financial matters. Furthermore, they will cover cooperation on regional and global security issues. India expects to raise concerns regarding extremism on British soil. Similarly, the leaders will address the extradition of economic offenders.

The visit builds directly on the momentum established earlier this year. Prime Minister Modi visited the UK in July 2025. At that time, both countries formalized the trade agreement. Starmer’s current visit signals a firm mutual commitment. Ultimately, both nations want to build a forward-looking, technology-driven partnership. The UK delegation seeks new deals and investments during their time in India. This should create jobs and drive growth across both economies successfully.