British Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated he was ready to offer more visas to India in return for this year clinching a free-trade deal that could boost annual bilateral trade by billions of pounds, according to a Reuters report.
This development comes in the wake of India's insistence on greater opportunities for Indians to live and work in Britain. It is worth noting that any trade deal will likely be contingent on relaxing rules and lowering fees for Indian students and professionals going to the country.
UK High Commissioner commented on Thursday that Johnson will use his visit to India to "boost our collaboration with one of the world's fastest-growing economies, slashing trade barriers for UK businesses and driving jobs and growth at home."
Earlier, while speaking on the plane on his way to India, Johnson was quoted saying, "I have always been in favour of talented people coming to this country," Johnson told reporters. "We are short to the tune of hundreds of thousands of people in our economy and we need to have a progressive approach and we will."
The British prime minister, during his visit to Gujarat which began today, is scheduled to visit a new factory being opened by a top British firm as well as a biotechnology university working in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh.
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The trade pact involves new investments and exports worth one billion pounds by both UK and Indian firms in areas from software engineering to health. The new investments worth one billion pounds will include setting up of a new Switch Mobility electric bus R&D centre in the UK and the opening of their Asia Pacific headquarters in Chennai.
The India-UK relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the India-UK virtual summit held between Modi and Johnson in May last year.
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