LOC20:55
17:55 GMT
NEW DELHI, Oct 8 (KUNA) -- India and the UK explored on Wednesday ways to boost trade and investment partnership and cooperation.
A statement from the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal held a bilateral meeting with UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle in Mumbai to chart a renewed course for trade and investment partnership between the two countries. Both the ministers agreed to reposition the Joint Economic and Trade Committee to oversee implementation and delivery of India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
"Both sides underlined their commitment to ensuring swift, coordinated, and results-oriented implementation of the Agreement, aimed at realising its full potential for businesses and consumers in both countries," the statement said.
Both sides pledged to achieve their shared ambition to double bilateral trade by 2030, leveraging the complementarities between the two economies many areas.
The ministers discussed ways to maximise the scope of CETA and tap its benefits through regulatory cooperation, addressing non-tariff barriers, and promoting supply chain integration. Several sectoral roundtables were held to discuss issues related to advanced manufacturing, consumer goods, food and drink, science, technology and many other areas.
These dialogues brought together leading voices from Indian and UK industry and provided valuable insights to guide implementation.
The India-UK CEO Forum was also held bringing together business leaders from both countries to discuss new opportunities for trade, investment, and innovation.
The discussions reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and the UK to advancing a modern, mutually beneficial, and sustainable economic partnership, strengthened by the India-UK CETA.
"Both ministers also exchanged views on the global trade and economic outlook, acknowledging the importance of building resilient and diversified supply chains amid ongoing global uncertainties," the statement said.
Goyal underlined India's emergence as a major growth engine of the global economy, while Kyle highlighted that UK's deal is the best ever secured with India, putting British businesses first in line to access its vast market and drive growth, jobs, and prosperity.
The UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle is part of a big delegation accompanying UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer who arrived in Mumbai earlier today. Starmer is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. (end)
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