Cleverly says both UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month…reports Asian Lite News
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has condemned the recent acts of violence at the Indian High Commission adding that Metropolitan Police were reviewing security and changes were being made to ensure safety, said a spokesperson of the UK Department for Business and Trade on Monday.
He also said that both UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial Foreign Trade Agreement and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month. Regarding the violence at the Indian High Commission in London, an official statement of the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, James Cleverly said, “Acts of violence towards staff at the Indian High Commission are unacceptable and I have made our position clear to the High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami. The police investigation is ongoing and we are in close contact with the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Government in New Delhi.”
“We are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security at the Indian High Commission, and will make the changes needed to ensure the safety of its staff as we did for today’s demonstration,” it added.
The UK Foreign Secretary’s official statement also read, “We will always take the security of the High Commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously, and prevent and robustly respond to incidents such as this.”
In relation to the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, he said that the UK-India relationship, driven by the deep personal connections between our two countries, is thriving.
“Our joint 2030 Roadmap guides our relationship and shows what we can achieve when we work together, creating new markets and jobs for the two countries and helping to tackle shared challenges,” the statement added.
“We want to build deeper ties between the UK and India for the future,” it concluded.
Earlier this month, the UK Foreign Secretary had said that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement can and must deliver practical, real-world benefits for businesses in both countries and that this will give a strong message to the world that the two countries are committed to building closer partnerships.
“FTA can and must deliver practical, real-world benefits for businesses in both of our countries. It will also send a strong signal to the whole world that our two great countries are committed to building even closer partnerships with each other,” Cleverly said.
The UK Foreign Secretary made the above remarks while addressing the gathering at the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Special Plenary Session of India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave in New Delhi.
Cleverly during his address said that UK and India, the 6th and 5th largest economies in the world respectively, must work closely together to contribute to the world’s economic security and prosperity.
He said that in times of social and economic turbulence, trusted partners need to work even closer together.
Meanwhile, Indian authorities on Monday denied reports of stalling trade negotiations with the UK for trade facilitations, calling it ‘baseless’. This is in contradiction to the report by The Times (UK), which was also carried by several other outlets, stating India accused Britain of failing to condemn a Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian high commission last month.
In recent times, the global landscape has witnessed the emergence of strong partnerships between countries aimed at fostering economic growth and development. One such collaboration is the growing bond between India and the United Kingdom, two nations with a shared history and commitment to joint prosperity. However, it is disheartening to see some malicious elements attempting to create a wedge between these friendly countries through the circulation of baseless rumours, which sometimes media outlets fall prey to.
A recent report by The Times (UK), quoting a Whitehall source, alleged that India had halted trade negotiations with the UK, accusing Britain of failing to condemn a Sikh extremist group that attacked the Indian High Commission in London. This misinformation, designed to strain the burgeoning relationship between India and the UK, was quickly debunked by Indian authorities. Both Indian and British diplomats confirmed that the trade talks had not been suspended and were continuing as scheduled.
As these two nations move forward with their Free Trade Deal, it is essential to recognize the immense benefits that such an agreement would bring to both countries. For India, this deal would provide access to the UK’s vast markets, which would subsequently boost exports and strengthen the nation’s economy. This increased trade would also facilitate job creation, contributing to India’s efforts in promoting economic development. On the other hand, the UK would benefit from the growing Indian market, which is experiencing rapid expansion in sectors like technology, renewable energy, and healthcare. By tapping into these sectors, British businesses would gain a competitive edge, thereby fostering economic growth and creating job opportunities in the UK. Additionally, this partnership would help the UK diversify its trade portfolio and reduce its reliance on European markets post-Brexit.