PM Modi speaks to UK PM Rishi Sunak, says ‘agreed on importance of early conclusion of FTA’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Indian-origin UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and said that they will work together to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between both countries. The Prime Minister also said that both leaders agreed on the importance of an early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 

“Glad to speak to @RishiSunak today. Congratulated him on assuming charge as UK PM. We will work together to further strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We also agreed on the importance of early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced FTA,” he said in a tweet. 

India and the UK have been negotiating a free trade deal, which was earlier expected to be finalised by Diwali. This deadline was set by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. However, the Liz Truss administration said that it was not sticking to that deadline and that it would focus on the quality of the deal rather than the date. 

Today, Sunak thanked Prime Minister Modi for his kind words as he get started in his new role. “The UK and India share so much. I’m excited about what our two great democracies can achieve as we deepen our security, defence and economic partnership in the months & years ahead,” he said.