Catherine West embarked on her first visit to India as the UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific this week to reiterate the Labour government’s commitment to strengthening UK-India ties and negotiating a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said that climate, tech, health, education and development were among the topics on the agenda for the minister’s two-day visit to Delhi. She is scheduled for meetings with counterparts and officials in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and an education roundtable at the British Council.
Catherine West said: “I am delighted to be visiting India for the first time as Minister for the Indo-Pacific. As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is a vital partner.
“My visit reaffirms the UK’s commitment to fostering deeper cooperation with India and to driving forward greater growth and prosperity for both our nations.”
The FCDO said her talks will continue to unlock the full potential of the India-UK partnership and drive forward greater growth for both countries, building on UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit soon after the Labour Party’s landslide win in July.
She will also reiterate that the UK remains committed to negotiating a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty, FCDO said in a statement.
During the education roundtable at the British Council, West’s focus will be on the unique “living bridge” between the UK and India, representing the 1.7 million people of Indian heritage in the UK and connecting both countries across culture, education, food, sport and more.
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To further highlight this cultural understanding, the minister will visit the Jama Masjid in Delhi, where she will learn about the historic mosque’s history and architecture.
The UK and India have been negotiating an FTA, which remains stalled since the general elections in both countries earlier this year. According to latest Department for Business and Trade (DBT) statistics, the bilateral trade partnership is now worth £42 billion a year – up 9.7 per cent hike over the past year and expected to be further enhanced by a trade deal.