UK's David Lammy visits India to push for free-trade deal

Foreign Secretary will also meet business leaders during a visit to India’s third-largest technology company

Britain's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, in Lebanon in January. Reuters

David Lammy will make his first trip to India as Foreign Secretary to reinforce the UK’s commitment to securing a free-trade agreement with the country.

In a bid to reset the UK-India partnership and “drive forward greater growth” for both countries, Mr Lammy will travel to New Delhi on Wednesday to meet the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

He will highlight the contribution that British Indians make to the UK, saying that they enrich the UK’s social and economic landscape and are the epitome of modern Britain.

The previous Conservative government had been seeking to secure a deal, which they regarded as a major post-Brexit prize, but negotiations have dragged on for two years.

“Our free-trade agreement negotiations are the floor, not the ceiling, of our ambitions to unlock our shared potential and deliver growth, from Bengaluru to Birmingham," Mr Lammy said.

"We have shared interests on the green transition, new technologies, economic security and global security.

“I am travelling to India in my first month as Foreign Secretary because resetting our relationship with the Global South is a key part of how this government will reconnect Britain for our security and prosperity at home.”

Mr Lammy will also seek to rally support for stronger action on climate change and discuss Indian-led global initiatives to build access to clean power and climate resilience in the Global South and small island states.

He will also meet business leaders during a visit to India’s third-largest technology company.

A trade deal with India could grant more favourable access for British companies to a market of 1.4 billion people.

After visiting India, Mr Lammy will travel to the Association of South-East Asian Nations foreign ministers’ meeting in Laos.