Blitz Bureau
London, April 29: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is in the UK this week, meeting with top business leaders to deepen India’s trade and investment ties. On the first leg of his five-day trip covering London, Oslo, and Brussels, Goyal engaged with members of the Indian business community and senior industry figures, pushing for greater collaboration to boost mutual growth.
“Interacted with members of the Indian business delegation over dinner. Discussed the robust growth of our industry and avenues for greater collaboration with the UK for mutual prosperity,” Goyal posted on X.
The minister’s agenda included meetings with Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, where discussions focused on global trends and India’s prospects in the gems and jewellery sector, particularly emphasizing sustainable practices and future growth in the diamond industry.
Goyal also sat down with Martin Gilbert, Chairperson of fintech giant Revolut, to explore opportunities in India’s fast-growing fintech space. Both sides discussed how partnerships with global players can drive innovation and scale up India’s digital economy.
Earlier, Goyal met with the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, J. Reynolds, in a “productive” session aimed at pushing forward negotiations on the much-anticipated India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
“Arrived in London for two days of engaging discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations. In my first engagement, held a productive meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade J. Reynolds to advance Free Trade Agreement negotiations, reinforcing our commitment to deepening India-UK economic ties,” Goyal shared on X.
The London visit is critical as India and the UK work to close talks on the FTA, now in its final stages. The agreement covers 26 chapters, including trade in goods, services, investments, and intellectual property rights. Both countries are keen to finalize the deal soon, especially as global trade dynamics shift with rising tariffs from the United States.
