PM to visit UK this month to formalize free trade deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the UK later this month for the formalization of the India-UK trade deal and to give a boost to strategic and economic ties, people familiar with the matter said.

- Rezaul H. Laskar & Rajeev Jayaswal

India and the UK finalized a free trade agreement (FTA) on 6 May to boost Indian exports of textiles, leather and engineering goods and cut levies on British Scotch whisky, automobiles and medical devices. Since then, the two sides have been engaged in the legal scrubbing of the deal so that it can be formally signed.

The two sides are currently working out arrangements for Modi's visit, for which dates are yet to be fixed, the people said on condition of anonymity.