British PM says can deepen India trade ties before leaving EU

Record ID: 79804

  • Title: British PM says can deepen India trade ties before leaving EU
  • Date: 7th November 2016
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (NOVEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY AND INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI WALKING ON THE STAGE MAY WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM FOR SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, THERESA MAY, SAYING: "I would be discussing with Prime Minister Modi how we can increase the detail and depth of our trade and investment discussions, and identify what more we can do, now, to unleash our businesses, industries, exporters and investors. This does not need to wait for us to leave the EU (European Union)." DELEGATES LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, THERESA MAY, SAYING: "We want Britain to be the most committed and most passionate advocate of free trade in the world, that is because free trade creates a rising tide that lifts all boats- it makes us all richer, it creates jobs, it increases investments, it improves productivity, it transforms living standards and creates opportunities for all our citizens." MODI WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, NARENDRA MODI, SAYING: "I call upon all the participants here to contribute and add value to these exciting bilateral programs aimed to fostering innovation and techno-entrepreneurship." A DELEGATE CLICKING A PHOTOGRAPH WITH HIS MOBILE PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, NARENDRA MODI, SAYING: "Education is vital for our students and will define our engagement in a shared future. We must therefore, encourage greater mobility and participation of young people in educational and research opportunities." MAY AND MODI SHAKING HANDS
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2016 06:38
  • Keywords: Theresa May Narendra Modi India Britain trade European Union Brexit
  • Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • City: NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00157G2E6F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Britain should not wait until it leaves the European Union to develop deeper trade ties with India, Prime Minister Theresa May said in New Delhi on Monday (November 7), promising to ease access for Indian business travellers but not for its students.
    May and the United Kingdom's International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, landed in New Delhi late on Sunday (November 6) night, accompanied by business leaders from across the UK, marking her first visit to India since taking office in July.
    The visiting prime minister described the potential of the British-Indian relationship as "limitless" and announced a scheme to make it quicker and easier for Indian business travellers to clear passport control.
    "I would be discussing with Prime Minister Modi how we can increase the detail and depth of our trade and investment discussions, and identify what more we can do, now, to unleash our businesses, industries, exporters and investors. This does not need to wait for us to leave the EU (European Union)," May told an India-UK Tech Summit in New Delhi at the start of a two-day trip that will take her on Tuesday (November 8) to the tech hub of Bengaluru.
    May said she plans to use the visit to try to reduce barriers to trade with India and pave the way for a post-Brexit free-trade deal.
    "We want Britain to be the most committed and most passionate advocate of free trade in the world, that is because free trade creates a rising tide that lifts all boats- it makes us all richer, it creates jobs, it increases investments, it improves productivity, it transforms living standards and creates opportunities for all our citizens," she added.
    But with the Indian government keen to secure more access to Britain for students and skilled workers, visa numbers are likely to be a sticking point in any talks.
    Modi said it was vital that India and Britain work together to define the knowledge economy of the 21st century, and invited UK partners to get involved in his signature policy initiatives such as his plan to develop 100 "smart" cities.
    He also encouraged the country's citizens to travel abroad to study in an apparent reference to the sharp fall in the number of Indian nationals studying in Britain since 2010.
    "Education is vital for our students and will define our engagement in a shared future. We must therefore, encourage greater mobility and participation of young people in educational and research opportunities," said Modi.
    When May was interior minister the number of Indian students in Britain fell to 11,864 in June 2015 from 68,238 five years earlier.
    Some in May's cabinet and business leaders in both countries have urged May to exclude foreign students from Britain's statistics on net migration, which she has vowed to bring below 100,000 a year, from 336,000 in 2015.
    May said it was "crucial" that those who do need to travel between UK and India for business can do so, but she indicated earlier that she saw no reason to change the UK visa regime.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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