Amid rising global tech alliances, Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent UK visit accentuated deeper digital, trade, and innovation ties through a landmark FTA between the two countries.
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, concluded a visit to the United Kingdom aimed at reinforcing India–UK trade ties through a strong focus on technological collaboration.
The visit, from 18–19 June, centred around accelerating the implementation of the recently signed India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). A key theme was promoting joint efforts in emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.
“The agreement not only enhances bilateral trade, but also demonstrates India’s ability to negotiate balanced and future-oriented trade frameworks aligned with its national interests,” noted Goyal, according to a recent release by the Commerce Ministry.
During bilateral talks with UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, Minister Goyal reviewed progress on FTA commitments. Discussions also involved UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, focusing on investment mechanisms to support high-growth sectors.
On the second day of his visit, at the India Global Forum (IGF) 2025, Goyal delivered the keynote address at the plenary session ‘From Agreement to Action’, where he emphasised India’s ambition to become a global tech and manufacturing hub.
He highlighted government initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and Make-in-India, aimed at attracting UK investment in electronics, AI, and green technologies.
A special session at the Science Museum, UK, on June 19 focused on deepening UK–India cooperation in science, technology, and innovation. Topics included India’s digital public infrastructure, sustainable production, and the global scaling of indigenous digital platforms such as UPI and CoWIN.
Goyal also engaged with top executives from sectors such as fintech, smart logistics, and manufacturing to enhance commercial linkages and foster co-innovation.
