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Rio de Janeiro, Nov 19 (PTI) India will open two new consulates in Belfast and Manchester in Britain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced during the first meeting with his British counterpart Keir Starmer, even as he called for extradition of fugitive Indian businessmen from India. the United Kingdom.
After the talks, held late on Monday on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Starmer said negotiations on a free trade pact between India and Britain would restart in the new year, in comments that highlighted concerns over the handling of his Labor government’s position on the negotiations seemed to be taking away. proposed trade deal.
The Indian side pushed for extradition of fugitive Indian businessmen Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, with Modi underlining the importance of addressing the issue of economic offenders from India in Britain.
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It was the first meeting between the two leaders after Starmer took over as Prime Minister of Britain in July, succeeding Rishi Sunak.
On the ambitious trade deal, the two prime ministers hoped that a “balanced, mutually beneficial and forward-looking” free trade agreement (FTA) will be strengthened while remaining issues will be addressed to mutual satisfaction, an Indian government readout said.
Prime Minister Starmer has announced that trade talks between Britain and India will restart in the new year, the British government said.
“A new trade deal with India will support jobs and prosperity in Britain – and represent a step forward in our mission to create growth and opportunity across our country,” he said in the readout.
Negotiations on the proposed FTA began in January 2022 and the two sides have held fourteen rounds of talks. However, a number of controversial issues remain to be resolved.
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“In the coming years we would like to work closely together in areas such as technology, green energy, safety, innovation and technology. We also want to strengthen trade and cultural ties,” he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Starmer welcomed Modi’s announcement to set up two new Consulate Generals of India in Britain.
“Recognizing that there are ample opportunities for further engagement between the two sides in light of growing bilateral economic and business relations and with a view to better serving the consular needs of the Indian community in Britain, Prime Minister Modi announced the establishment of two new consulates. General of India in Britain in Belfast and Manchester,” the MEA said.
On the trade deal, Modi and Starmer said it is important to resume FTA negotiations at an early date.
The two leaders expressed confidence in the negotiating teams’ ability to address the remaining issues to mutual satisfaction, leading to a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward-looking free trade agreement, the report said.
“The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of addressing the issue of economic offenders from India in Britain,” the MEA said.
“The two leaders also agreed on the need to make progress on migration and mobility,” the report said.
The MEA said Modi and Starmer reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the United Kingdom, with a focus on economics, trade, new and emerging technologies, research and innovation, green finance and people-to-people connections.
They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including on international and regional issues of significance, the report said.
Mallya, who is currently living in the UK since March 2016 and is trying to avoid extradition to India, is accused in a default case of over Rs 9,000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines.
Nirav Modi is a fugitive diamond trader who has been in prison in London for more than five years. He had lost his extradition battle amid charges of fraud and money laundering in India. PTI SZM AK MPB NPK NPK
This report is automatically generated by PTI news service. ThePrint is not responsible for its content.