India: U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai, early on Wednesday (October 8, 2025) morning, for a two-day visit, with a delegation of 125 people, including CEOs and representatives from British institutes, universities and industry groups. The visit comes months after India and the U.K. signed a trade deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July visit to the European country. It also comes as both countries are navigating major geopolitical shifts, including their respective trading relationships with the U.S., under the administration of Donald Trump.
The visit is focused on trade and business, with No.10 Downing Street calling it a “two-day trade mission to Mumbai”. The U.K. delegation will include the Minister for trade and business, Peter Kyle, as well as investment minister Jason Stockwood.
“It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth,” Mr. Starmer said about the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
The visit will also involve bilateral discussions on regional and global issues, the Indian government had said on Saturday. These talks– scheduled for Thursday (October 9, 2025), would be aimed at further strengthening the bilateral relationship, including via a tech partnership, the Technology Security Initiative launched in July 2024, according to a statement from the U.K. government.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer poses for a photo with his business delegation before departing London Heathrow Airport as they head to India to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promote the recently signed trade deal, in London on October 7, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters
The leaders will also take stock of the India-U.K. relationship, reframed during Mr. Modi’s visit to the U.K. in the summer, as being guided by ‘Vision 2035’, a ten-year roadmap spanning a range of dimensions — from trade and climate to education, technology and people-to-people ties.
