Team Blitz India
NEW Delhi: Senior officials from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s team are in New Delhi this week to add momentum behind the ongoing round of negotiations for an India-UK free trade agreement (FTA), according to a UK media report on December 9.
The Guardian newspaper reports that while there is no official comment from either side on such a visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is keen to finalise the FTA by the end of February before Modi sets off on an expected general election campaign trail.
Both countries are heading into an election year in 2024 and signing off on a trade agreement with India will bolster Sunak’s electoral pitch to voters showing signs of anti-incumbency towards his governing Conservatives.
“The deal is still very much on and we think it is possible before both countries have their elections. Both sides are keen to get this done,” an official close to the talks told the newspaper.
