Sir Oliver Robbins, Permanent Under-Secretary at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was in India this week to review progress across the UK and India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
He met India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, in New Delhi for the annual UK-India Foreign Office Consultations. They welcomed the “significant breakthroughs” achieved across the full breadth of the partnership since consultations in London last year, including the announcement of the historic trade deal.
Sir Oliver said: “I’m delighted to be in India to help advance one of the UK’s most vital partnerships in the world. In a more complex world, there is strong ambition from both governments to take this partnership to even greater heights.
“I’m looking forward to working with Foreign Secretary Misri to make that a reality.”
Economic growth is the number one mission of the UK government. Both sides agreed to work towards implementing the shared vision of the two prime ministers for an ambitious partnership between the UK and India over the next decade.
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This year’s consultations included the inaugural Strategic Exports and Technology Cooperation Dialogue, aimed at building mutual understanding of systems and agreeing areas for future cooperation on key sectors such as technology and defence.
During the visit, Sir Oliver will meet a wide range of Indian government partners including on the G20 and home affairs.
The consultations come at a particularly opportune moment, soon after the UK and India agreed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is due to be formally signed off by both sides in the coming weeks.
According to the FCDO, the “landmark deal” finalised on May 6 is set to redefine the partnership for the next generation, strengthening trade links, supporting jobs, and delivering shared prosperity.
The deal is expected to increase bilateral trade already worth £43 billion annually by another £25.5 billion in the long term.
