NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Mumbai as the UK leader undertakes his first official visit to India. The two leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries during the meeting.Starmer, who held wide-ranging interactions in Mumbai on Wednesday, met with business leaders and described the India-UK trade partnership as “really important.” Speaking to industry representatives, he said, “This is the biggest trade mission that the United Kingdom has ever sent to India.” Highlighting the Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries in July 2024, Starmer called it “really important” and noted, “It’s the biggest deal we’ve struck since we left the European Union. I think it’s also the biggest deal that India has ever struck, so it’s hugely important.” The agreement aims to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually. During his visit, Starmer announced that three major productions from India’s Yash Raj Films (YRF) will be shot across UK locations starting in 2026. He also lit diyas in Mumbai to celebrate Diwali and symbolize the deep cultural ties between the two nations. Starmer met football fans in the city, praising the impact of the Premier League‘s training program on the development of the sport in India. The visit follows PM Modi’s trip to the UK in July, during which nearly £6 billion in new investment and export deals were confirmed.
