In a
significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his
British counterpart, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on the sidelines of the G7
summit in Italy. The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral relations
and reviving the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
This
comes months after their last meeting at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, where
both leaders committed to accelerating the FTA talks. The trade negotiations,
which began in January 2022, have the potential to significantly boost
bilateral trade, currently valued at around 38.1 billion pounds annually.
The discussions are expected to gain
momentum after the formation of a new UK government on July 4, setting the
stage for a renewed push to finalize the trade deal before India heads to its
general elections