Modi for stronger trade ties with UK

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sets off on a three-day visit to Britain beginning Thursday with a focus on boosting ties in trade and investment, defence and energy sectors besides enhancing cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism. Ahead of the visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in almost a decade, Modi said he will explore avenues of “more effective” economic cooperation with the UK, one of the fastest growing G-7 economies and home to a strong financial services sector.

The Prime Minister's packed schedule in London include a lunch with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace - an honour usually only accorded to heads of state, and an address at the British Parliament. He will also speak at a sell-out event at the Wembley stadium, expected to be attended by around 60,000 people from the Indian diaspora. Modi will have wide-ranging talks with his counterpart David Cameron and both sides are likely to sign a number of agreements. Both sides are likely to come out with three separate “outcome documents” on development partnership, defence and security, and on energy and climate change, listing initiatives to boost ties in these areas.

There may be a vision statement on overall ties, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told reporters, briefing on the visit. He said Cameron will accompany Modi on most of the occasions. “My visit is aimed at strengthening cooperation with a traditional friend that is not only a major economic partner of India but also one of the leading economic players of the world. India and UK are two vibrant democracies, which are proud of their diversity and multicultural societies,” Modi said in a Facebook post.

Jaishankar said boosting economic ties will be a major focus area, besides enhancing ties in defence and clean energy sector. Modi will interact with CEOs at a roundtable in London where he will list various initiatives to ensure ease of doing business in India. Modi will also visit Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover factory at Solihull. “My message to the business community is clear - come, make use of the opportunities India is offering and invest in India,” Modi said. Modi said expanding bilateral defence cooperation will be another focus area.

“We have traditionally been cooperating extensively on defence and security issues and this visit will build on strong ties. Defence manufacturing will be a prime focus in my talks,” he said.

“To everyone celebrating, let me wish you a happy and peaceful Diwali and a prosperous New Year,” he said. “Families are coming together, lights are being strung up, the food is going in the oven -- Diwali is upon us once again. As the celebrations get underway, from London to Leicester, Glasgow to Gwent, Bristol to Birmingham, I want to send out my very best wishes to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights,” Cameron said in his Diwali message.

Describing Diwali as a “a great moment in our national calendar and an opportunity to shine a light on the communities who do so much to make Britain great”, Cameron said, “in every walk of life, in every corner of our country you can see the immense contribution of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.”