Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the India–UK CEO Forum, outlining a vision for deeper cooperation in trade, technology, education, and innovation under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Mumbai, October 9, 2025 — Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the India–UK CEO Forum in the presence of UK Prime Minister Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP and leading business figures from both countries. The event marked a major milestone in advancing the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the recently signed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
In his remarks, Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Starmer for his commitment and vision, noting that CETA is not just a trade agreement but a roadmap for shared progress, prosperity, and stronger people-to-people connections. He highlighted that the agreement would enhance market access, empower MSMEs, and generate new employment opportunities for millions of young people in both nations.
Prime Minister Modi introduced four new dimensions to guide the partnership under CETA:
- C for Commerce & Economy
- E for Education & People-to-People Ties
- T for Technology & Innovation
- A for Aspirations
He emphasized that bilateral trade between India and the UK currently stands at around USD 56 billion, with a shared goal of doubling it by 2030. Expressing confidence in achieving this target ahead of time, he underlined India’s policy stability, predictable regulations, and strong domestic demand as major incentives for investors.
Highlighting the growing educational collaboration, Prime Minister Modi noted that nine UK universities will soon open campuses in India, creating new opportunities for academia–industry partnerships. He also called for joint efforts in strategic sectors such as AI, biotechnology, quantum technology, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and space.
On the defence front, he pointed to ongoing initiatives for co-design and co-production and stressed the need for collaboration in critical minerals, rare earths, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to give the partnership a futuristic direction.
Prime Minister Modi also praised India’s global leadership in the FinTech sector, noting that about 50% of the world’s real-time digital transactions take place in India. He said that combining the UK’s expertise in financial services with India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) could yield transformative global benefits.
Referring to the India–UK Vision 2035, the Prime Minister described it as a blueprint for shared ambitions between two open and democratic societies. He called on businesses to collaborate in areas like Green Hydrogen, Semiconductors, and Start-ups, urging them to set new global benchmarks together.
Prime Minister Modi further highlighted India’s focus on ease of doing business, GST reforms, and large-scale infrastructure investments, including the goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. He also announced that the nuclear power sector is being opened for private participation, creating new opportunities for India–UK collaboration.
Concluding his address, Prime Minister Modi invited UK businesses to join India’s development journey, expressing confidence that the partnership between Indian and British enterprises will lead to global leadership in emerging sectors.
Source: PMO
