Archive · 23 Jul 2025
Modi's UK Visit: Boosting India-UK Ties in Trade, Tech, and Defence
India and the UK are becoming closer friends, especially in business and technology.
They trade a lot, with over $55 billion worth of goods and services exchanged in 2024.
They're also planning a big trade deal to make it easier to buy and sell things.
They're working together on defense, like making weapons together.
Plus, they're teaming up on new technologies like AI and semiconductors.
Many Indian students study in the UK, and Indian companies have invested heavily in the UK.
This visit by India's leader is expected to make their friendship even stronger.
Prime Minister Modi's visit aims to strengthen India-UK relations across various sectors.
India-UK bilateral trade reached a record $55 billion in 2024, a 10% increase from the previous year.
The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to boost jobs, exports, and economic growth.
Defense cooperation includes agreements for joint production of defense systems and technology transfer.
Both nations are working on technology partnerships, focusing on critical and emerging technologies.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with other officials and business leaders.
- What
- Prime Minister Modi's visit is aimed at strengthening India-UK ties across various sectors.
- When
- The visit is ongoing with some actions completed in 2024 and 2025.
- Where
- United Kingdom.
- Why
- To strengthen trade, economic, and strategic partnerships.
Areas of Concern
Areas of Agreement
Defense Industry Cooperation
Areas of Concern
Some fear that India's focus on indigenous development could make cooperation commercially unviable for the British industry.
Areas of Agreement
The robust defense engagement mechanism between the two countries is intended to resolve intellectual-property issues.
- 2024 Bilateral Trade
- $55 billion
- Indian Companies in UK
- 971
- British Companies in India
- 667
- Indian Diaspora in UK
- 1.8 million
- Cumulative FDI from UK to India
- $36 billion (2000-March 2025)
- Indian Investment in UK
- ~$20 billion (2000-March 2025)
- Indian Students in UK (2023-2024)
- 170,000