Piyush Goyal Showcases India-UK FTA at IGF 2025
- Piyush Goyal emphasized the FTA as a transformative step for bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
- Priorities include support for SMEs, skilled mobility, and strong joint governance mechanisms.
- Highlighted collaboration in digital infrastructure, green tech, and advanced manufacturing during UK–India innovation session.
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, spotlighted India's strategic global outlook and economic leadership at the India Global Forum (IGF) 2025 in London, in his first major international address since the historic signing of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in May 2025.
Delivering the keynote address at the IGF Mainstage Plenary Session titled “From Agreement to Action: The UK–India FTA,” Shri Goyal emphasized that the FTA represents a shared ambition between two thriving democracies. He was joined by UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds, with international journalist Mark Barton moderating the session.
Shri Goyal noted that the agreement is more than a trade deal it’s a blueprint for a transformative economic partnership, designed to accelerate bilateral trade while reflecting India’s capacity to craft balanced, future-ready trade frameworks that serve national priorities.
Focusing on the next phase, he outlined priorities including:
- Strengthening institutional mechanisms for joint governance,
- Delivering early gains for SMEs and startups, and
- Ensuring smooth mobility of skilled professionals between the two nations.
On June 19, Shri Goyal also participated in a special session titled 'UK-India Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration' at London’s Science Museum. The discussion explored collaboration in digital public infrastructure, green technologies, and sustainable manufacturing, alongside India's efforts to become a global manufacturing hub via Make in India and PLI schemes.
Key technologies like UPI and CoWIN were highlighted as scalable innovations through bilateral cooperation. The FTA’s potential in deepening engagement in defence production, advanced manufacturing, and critical tech sectors was also explored.
Shri Goyal’s visit reinforces India’s commitment to advancing its comprehensive strategic partnership with the UK, unlocking new opportunities in trade, technology, and innovation.
