New Delhi [India], September 8 (ANI) The ambitious Free Trade Agreement (FTA) under discussion between India and the United Kingdom has made “enormous progress” but there is “still hard work to go,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. Stating that the bilateral relations between India and the United Kingdom are in “good health”, Sunak said that both he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are keen to deepen and broaden the relationship between the two nations. He stated that the trade deal is an obvious way to do that and it remains the priority of both the countries.

“Both Modi ji and I are keen to see a comprehensive and ambitious trade deal concluded between our two countries. Both of us think there is a good deal to be done. But trade deals always take time, they need to work for both countries. Although we have made enormous progress there is still hard work to go…,” Sunak said in an exclusive interview with ANI.

The British PM who arrived here today to participate in the Summit of the Group of 20 major economies said that the trade deal is not yet a done deal. Negotiations for the deal began in January 2022 and so far there have been 12 rounds of negotiations with the next one due to be held later this month.
Sunak said there is an enormous opportunity for both India and the UK to strengthen economic cooperation “which will bring real benefits to our citizens in both countries.” “The G20 is not the forum for those discussions. Of course, I will touch on that with Prime Minister Modi, but the teams are working very hard. But as I said there’s hard work to go but we will keep working through it,” Sunak said.

“I think we can strengthen our security relationship as well. That’s something that I’ve spoken to the Prime Minister about,” the British PM said. The UK PM further emphasised increasing collaboration between the researchers, scientific community and universities. He added that UK and India are two of the leading science and technology superpowers of the world. “Something I’m particularly excited about is increasing the collaboration between our incredible researchers, our scientific community, our universities. The UK and India are two of the leading science technology superpowers of the world. And I think if we work more closely together, we can create jobs, create new businesses, and help solve some of the world’s most pressing problems,” Sunak said. (ANI)

“G20 has been a huge success for India”: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

New Delhi [India], September 8 (ANI): British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday said G20 has been a huge success for India and it is the “right country at the right time to be hosting this”. The UK PM said that he will make sure that G20 under India’s presidency achieves success.

“I’m very keen to support Prime Minister Modi and making sure that this G20 is an enormous success for India which I know it will be and this has been a great year for India more generally,” he said. “G20 has been a huge success for India. India is the right country at the right time to be hosting this.I feel we are going to have a very good couple of days of deliberations and decisions made,” the British Prime Minister added while highlighting that the coming two days will witness hectic deliberations.  

Emphasizing that various issues are on agenda at the G20 under India’s leadership. He said: “I’m confident that we’ll make very good progress on a range of different issues.”   Referring to the theme of the 18th G20 Summit “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which translates to “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, UK PM Sunak said: “I think it’s a great theme. I am an example of the incredible living bridge that Prime Minister Modi described between UK and India.”

Mentioning on the progress to be made on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, Sunak said, “Well I think the bilateral relationship is in good health and Prime Minister Modi and I are keen to deepen and broaden our relationship. The FTA is an obvious way for us to do that which is why it remains our priority and as I said there is hard work to go. But I hope we can conclude a successful FTA.

Meanwhile, India and UK have held 12 rounds of talks for the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It was held on August 8-31, and was conducted in a hybrid fashion. A number of UK officials travelled to Delhi for negotiations and others attended virtually. The thirteenth round of negotiations is due to take place in September.

The India-UK bilateral trading relationship was worth Pound 34 billion in 2022, growing by Pound 10 billion (Rs 102 crore) in one year, according to official UK government statistics. The British Prime Minister said almost two million people of Indian origin live in the UK. “So, it’s very special for me to be here as British Prime Minister in the country where my family is from,” he said. Sunak arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the G20 Summit being held on September 9 and 10. He is accompanied by his wife Akshata Murty.  Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ashwini Kumar Choubey received Sunak and his wife at the airport. 
A group of dancers performed a traditional dance to welcome Sunak and his wife. It is Rishi Sunak‘s first visit to India as Prime Minister since he assumed office in October last year.  
Ahead of his arrival in Delhi, Rishi Sunak said that he is heading to the G20 Summit with a clear focus, which includes stabilising the global economy, building international ties and supporting the most vulnerable.
“I’m heading to the #G20 Summit with a clear focus. Stabilising the global economy. Building international relationships. Supporting the most vulnerable. This action is part of that – Putin again has failed to show up for the G20, but we will show up with support for Ukraine,” Sunak said in a post on X. 
“At the summit, the Prime Minister will stress the importance of those who do choose to attend demonstrating their leadership, both in helping the world’s most vulnerable people to deal with the terrible consequences of Putin’s war and in addressing wider challenges like climate change and the stability of the global economy,” UK Prime Minister’s Office said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Rishi Sunak on September 9 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, sources said.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in May this year and discussed the India-UK free trade agreement, innovation, and science along with ways to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The two countries are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement and the talks started in 2022.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra has said, “The coming together of the 41 Heads of delegations, Heads of State/Govt, Heads of international organisations in India, starting yesterday is under PM’s personal leadership and direction. “It is essentially a celebration of the coming together of the G 20 family…This is the largest-ever participation of the Global South in India,” Kwatra said.
India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organized in 60 cities across the country. The 18th G20 Summit will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies.

One of the takeaways of India’s G20 presidency is the revolutionization of Digital Payment Infrastructure, as initially very few people knew about it, but it has taken forward extensively, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said on Friday. (ANI)