India–UK FTA paves way for actionable cooperation in trade, technology, and mobility

Minister outlines roadmap to deepen bilateral gains across key sectors

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal showcased India’s strategic global outlook and economic leadership at the India Global Forum (IGF) 2025 in London today. His visit marks a significant moment following 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,”the Union Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to transitioning the FTA from a negotiated text into a transformative economic partnership. He was joined in conversation by the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan Reynolds, with moderation by international journalist Mr. Mark Barton.

Union Minister Shri Goyal described the FTA as a reflection of shared ambition between two vibrant democracies. He stated that 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.

Outlining the next phase of implementation, Shri Goyal highlighted key priorities such as strengthening institutional mechanisms for joint governance, unlocking early benefits for SMEs and startups, and facilitating smooth mobility of skilled professionals across sectors.

On June 19th, the Union Minister participated in a special session on “UK–India Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration” at the Science Museum in London. The session explored opportunities for UK stakeholders to contribute to India’s expanding investments in digital public infrastructure, sustainable manufacturing, and green technologies. Discussions also covered efforts to make India a global manufacturing hub through Make in India, PLI schemes, and enhancing collaboration in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, and creative industries.

The Free Trade Agreement’s role in deepening cooperation in critical technologies, defence production, and advanced manufacturing was also highlighted. The session further examined how innovations like UPI and CoWIN can be scaled globally through bilateral collaboration.

Union Minister Shri Goyal concluded his engagements at IGF 2025 by participating in a closed-door roundtable, “From Agreement to Action: UK–India FTA,”also held at the Science Museum. The session brought together senior industry leaders from both countries for an in-depth discussion on FTA implementation and sector-specific opportunities.

The Minister’s participation underscores India’s continued commitment to strengthening its comprehensive strategic partnership with the United Kingdom. By leveraging the India–UK FTA, both nations aim to unlock new avenues in goods, services, technology, and innovation for shared prosperity.

Free Trade Agreement implementation advances joint governance, SME access, and mobility to deepen trade and technology cooperation. The Government advances an operational roadmap for the Free Trade Agreement to convert the negotiated text into implementable measures by establishing joint governance mechanisms, unlocking early market access for SMEs and startups, and facilitating mobility of skilled professionals; sectoral focus includes goods, services, defence production, advanced manufacturing, and scaling digital public infrastructure and innovations internationally.