Working intensely with India on trade pact, says UK

The UK government is "working intensely" to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with India soon, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said during a visit to Singapore as part of his tour of South-East Asia. 

"We have signed Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand - and we are working intensely to agree one with India soon", the foreign secretary Cleverly said.

In a keynote speech at the 9th Annual Milken Asia Summit, while setting out the UK's continued commitment in the Indo-Pacific region, the UK foreign secretary noted, "We were the first European country to secure a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. And we intend to be the first European country to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

"It will give the region access to the UK's world-class financial services sector as well as, as well as the world's sixth largest economy. That's why engagement between the UK and Indo-Pacific needs to cover the broadest spectrum of activity."

This comes after Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had said the UK is keen to stick to the Diwali deadline for the FTA and both countries are working towards it.

(ANI)