UK Foreign Secretary visits India

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, is in India to announce the launch of the Young Professionals Scheme, which will allow up to 3,000 Britons and 3,000 Indians per year to live and work in each other’s countries for up to two years. The scheme, which was announced by the Home Secretary earlier this week, is part of a wider effort to strengthen the UK-India relationship, particularly in the areas of defence and security, trade, and investment.

Foreign Secretary Cleverly is also expected to meet with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, to discuss progress on the UK-India 2030 Roadmap. This initiative aims to increase collaboration between the two countries on a range of issues, including technology and innovation, climate change, and health.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary will also open the UK’s first Tech Envoy to the Indo-Pacific region, who will be tasked with strengthening ties between the UK and India in the technology sector. India is currently home to 108 tech unicorns and start-ups, and the envoy will work with partners in the region to set global technology standards and address shared challenges through innovation.

In addition to these initiatives, the Foreign Secretary will attend the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting to discuss global efforts on food and energy security, climate change, and development. He will also address an India-Europe business event in Delhi, where he will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to concluding a Free Trade Agreement with India. The UK-India trading relationship is currently worth £34 billion, with the potential for significant growth in the coming years.

Foreign Secretary Cleverly noted that India is a “hugely important partner” for the UK, and that the new migration scheme and Tech Envoy role demonstrate the UK’s commitment to deepening ties with the country. These initiatives, along with the wider 2030 Roadmap, will help to strengthen the UK-India relationship and support economic growth and innovation in both countries.