BackNarendra Modi eyes $15 billion of deals during his first UK visit
Modi will have a hectic three-day schedule that will start with talks with his British counterpart David Cameron
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set to arrive in Britain on Thursday on a three-day visit that is expected to see $15 billion in defence and trade deals being signed.
This is Modi’s first visit to Britain; the Indian prime minister visited France and Germany in April but a visit to Britain, India’s former colonial ruler, was reportedly deferred then given that Britain was to go into general elections in May.
It is also the first visit by Modi abroad after the electoral loss for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Bihar assembly elections—something British newspapers have taken note of.
“Leaving for UK. I am hopeful this visit will strengthen economic ties between India and UK & bring more investment to India. #makeinindia," Modi tweeted before starting his three-day visit.
Britain was the first Western country to end a visa ban on Modi, imposed after the 2002 riots in Gujarat, when he was chief minister of the state. Modi has denied any wrongdoing in the violence that killed around 1,000 people, mainly Muslims.
According to news reports from London, at least three protests have been planned outside 10, Downing Street, the office of British Prime Minister David Cameron, in time for Modi’s visit.
The protests include one against Modi’s alleged role in the Gujarat riots, according to The Indian Express newspaper.
Modi’s visit also comes on the heels of a visit to Britain by the Chinese president Xi Jinping last month during which China and Britain concluded deals worth $30 billion.
In contrast, India will be looking at attracting more British investments into India in the areas of defence manufacturing, There could be an agreement for Britain’s BAE Systems to sell 20 more Hawk trainer jets to India. India also has plans to market rupee-denominated “masala bonds" in London, an AFP report said.
In terms of outcomes, Indian foreign secretary S. Jaishankar told reporters in New Delhi earlier this week that besides a joint statement at the conclusion of the visit, India and Britain would issue a statement on defence and security partnership and another on development partnership.
“Today, both India and Britain provide overseas development assistance, do projects abroad. So, we see some advantages in working together there. There would be a statement on energy and climate change, and possibly some sort of a broader statement, a vision statement sort of thing," Jaishankar said.
Outlining the importance of Modi’s visit to London which comes nine years after the last bilateral visit by then prime minister Manmohan Singh, Jaishankar described Britain as a “major power with a considerable global influence, and engaging such a power is important for (Indian) foreign policy."
London was also an important financial centre, Jaishankar pointed out, adding that at a time when India was looking to source investment, technology and best practices from abroad to rejuvenate its economy, “the investment and economic aspects of this visit will be important".
India is also looking to collaborate and source clean and green technologies from Britain, which is one of India’s top science and technology partners, Jaishankar said.
On the eve of Modi’s visit, the government on Tuesday eased foreign investment norms across 15 sectors, including defence and civil aviation, to attract overseas funds and boost economic growth.
On his arrival in London, Modi will hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street.
The meeting with Cameron will be the third in the 18 months that Modi has been in office, having met him on the sidelines of the Brisbane G20 meet of developed and developing countries and on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
Modi will also address trade and industry representatives and visit a Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plant. The iconic British car maker was taken over by the Tatas in 2008.
“It is our largest investment by an Indian company in the UK. In fact, it is my understanding that this is the largest private sector manufacturing employer in the UK. The JLR today produces 425,000 vehicles which are sold really across the world. Do note that when this was first acquired it was a company which was running at a loss; it was turned around in five years; and its revenue of course have increased enormously," Jaishankar said.
“I think in many ways, it is a symbol of a much more contemporary economic relationship between the two countries. Shall I say, a visit there drives home the message that we are job makers and not job takers?," he added.
Other items on Modi’s schedule include a brief stop to pay tributes at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, followed by a speech at the Houses of Parliament and then another at the Guildhall in the financial hub of London.
Modi’s talks with Cameron will carry on at the British Prime Minister’s country residence of Chequers in Buckinghamshire, where Modi will be staying overnight.
On Friday, Modi will return to London for meeting with British trade and industry representatives.
The ceremony attached to the visit is expected to include a special tricolour flypast by the Red Arrows Royal Air Force (RAF) Aerobatic Team over Buckingham Palace before the Prime Minister sits down for lunch with Queen Elizabeth II on Friday.
Modi will also address the Indian diaspora before concluding his visit to Britain.
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