PM Modi calls Keir Starmer’s India visit ‘historic’ as UK trade delegation arrives

Welcome Prime Minister Keir Starmer on your historic first visit to India with the largest ever trade delegation from the UK. Looking forward to our meeting tomorrow for advancing our shared vision of a stronger, mutually prosperous future. @Keir_Starmer pic.twitter.com/Sv29sZ6dzj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2025

The British leader, accompanied by a delegation of 125 of the UK's most prominent business leaders, entrepreneurs, university vice chancellors, landed in Mumbai this morning on a two-day visit. 

British PM Keir Starmer meets Indian business leaders in Mumbai

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with business leaders in India’s financial capital on Wednesday, marking the start of his first official visit to the country.

Upon his arrival, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the visit as the beginning of “a new chapter in the strong and dynamic India-UK partnership” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"A warm welcome to PM @Keir_Starmer of the United Kingdom! Received by the Governor of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Mr Acharya Devvrat @maha_governor at the airport. This is PM Starmer's first visit to India. This visit marks a new chapter in our strong & dynamic India-UK partnership."

A warm welcome to PM @Keir_Starmer of the United Kingdom! Received by Governor of Maharashtra and Gujarat Mr. Acharya Devvrat @maha_governor at the airport.

This is PM Starmer’s first visit to India. This visit marks a new chapter in our strong & dynamic India-UK partnership.… pic.twitter.com/TShzoykM6l

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 8, 2025

In another post on X, MEA noted that the UK PM has arrived in India with a large delegation of 125 members, consisting of CEOs, entrepreneurs, university Vice Chancellors, and cultural leaders.

PM @Keir_Starmer of the UK has reached Mumbai, India with a large delegation of 125 members consisting of CEOs, entrepreneurs, university Vice Chancellors and cultural leaders.

🎥 Watch how the 🇮🇳-🇬🇧 Education cooperation is benefiting the common people. pic.twitter.com/2DnritEuKi

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 8, 2025

This is Prime Minister Starmer's first official visit to India.

According to the news agency ANI, during the visit, on October 9 in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Prime Ministers will take stock of progress in diverse aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with 'Vision 2035', a focused and time bound 10-year Roadmap of programmes and initiatives in key pillars of trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education and people to people relations.

Both leaders will engage with businesses and industry leaders on the opportunities presented by the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which will serve as a central pillar of the future India-UK economic partnership.

They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance.

As per ANI, the two Prime Ministers will attend the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai and deliver keynote addresses. The leaders will also engage with industry experts, policymakers and innovators.

The visit will build on the momentum and substance generated by the visit of Prime Minister Modi to the UK in July this year. It will provide a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the United Kingdom to build a forward-looking partnership. 

(With PTI inputs)