London/New Delhi, March 5 (UNI) Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House, ahead of the opening of two new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester, boosting regional economic ties and delivering on the growth agenda.
The development comes as the UK welcomes Indian investment deals worth more than pounds 100 million, which is creating jobs, strengthening growth, and helping working people by putting more money in their pockets, a British High Commission statement said.
During their meeting at Chevening, the two Foreign Ministers drove forward the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
This focused on fostering mutual economic growth, technological innovation, and collaboration on global challenges including climate change. They also discussed the Ukraine conflict, the Middle East and other global affairs.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said: “One of my first visits as Foreign Secretary was to India because deepening our partnership for our shared growth and security is a key part of this government’s Plan for Change.
“Dr Jaishankar and I are supercharging our pounds-41 billion trading relationship with India, after trade talks were relaunched in Delhi. It is the floor, not the ceiling of our ambitions that will benefit both our economies.
“The opening of new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester demonstrate the growing links between our peoples and how we are working together to deliver growth not only in London, but right across the UK. This expansion of India’s diplomatic presence will further boost our trading relationship and support the valued Indian community in the UK.”
Ministers are also set to discuss the Technology Security Initiative, launched during the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Delhi in July 2024. They will touch on the opportunities for citizens in both countries that will come from closer collaboration in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, telecoms and critical minerals. Opportunities include more effective and affordable healthcare and more resilient supply chains, as well as greater innovation, investment and job creation.
The visit will also highlight the living bridge between the UK and India, including a special reception with Chevening scholars at Chevening House, celebrating India’s position as home to the world’s largest Chevening programme.
During the India visit last month of UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the British Government relaunched talks on a trade deal with India to bring more opportunity to UK businesses. UK Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson was in Bengaluru to promote investment opportunities in the UK economy.
The recent Indian investments in the UK cover a range of sectors including AI, professional services and textiles and are expected to create hundreds of new jobs over the next three years.
India has consulates in several UK cities in addition to London.
The Technology Security Initiative (TSI) has been spearheaded and agreed by the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of the UK and India following negotiations between both countries to expand collaboration in critical and emerging technologies across priority sectors.
Chevening is the UK Government’s flagship international scholarships and fellowships programme. It offers fully funded scholarships (including tuition, travel and living expense) for a one-year postgraduate course in the UK and short-term fellowships to mid-career professionals. The Chevening programme in India is the largest in the world, benefiting over 3,900 scholars and fellows since 1983.
The UK’s largest diplomatic mission globally is in India with Deputy High Commissions in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. The British Nationals Assistance Office in Goa represents the UK government in the state.
