UK PM Boris Johnson to visit India next week; Indo-Pacific security, jobs on agenda

London (UK), April 17: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to visit India next week to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bolster close partnership and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. "The visit will begin from Ahmedabad on Thursday (21st April) to meet with leading businesses and discuss the UK and India's thriving commercial, trade and people links. This will be the first time a UK Prime Minister will visit Gujarat, India's fifth-largest state and the ancestral home of around half of the British-Indian population in the UK," a statement by Downing Street read. In Gujarat, the British Prime Minister is expected to announce new science, health and technology projects, as well as major investments in key industries in the United Kingdom and India. "The Prime Minister will then travel to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (22nd April). The leaders will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India's strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the Indo-Pacific," the statement added. As per the UK government, Johnson will use the upcoming visit to India to drive progress in the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to boost bilateral trade by up to 28 billion pounds (USD 36.5 billion) annually by 2035. "My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations - from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence," Johnson on Sunday in a government statement. Also Read | Noida police on alert after Delhi's Jahangirpuri violence; several injured Last month, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and agreed to work together to strengthen bilateral trade, security, and business ties in the coming months. "Today @narendramodi and I spoke about the grave situation in Ukraine and agreed its sovereignty must be respected. The UK-India relationship continues to go from strength to strength, and we'll build on our trade, security and business ties in the coming weeks and months," Johnson had tweeted. During the conversation, the two leaders had discussed issues of bilateral interests and agreed on the potential of further deepening cooperation in various areas such as trade, technology, investments, defence and security besides people-to-people relations. Last year, two leaders had agreed on a UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announcing more than £530m in investment into the UK and committing to a deeper bilateral relationship across trade, health, climate, defence and security, and connecting our people. India was identified as a priority relationship for the UK in the 2021 Integrated Review and was invited as a guest to last year's G7 in Carbis Bay by the UK. The UK is leveraging post-Brexit trade opportunities with India's growing economy to lower the prices of key commodities for consumers, open opportunities for UK businesses in areas such as green tech and services and create high-wage, high-skill jobs. Investment from Indian companies already supports 95,000 jobs across the UK, which is expected to be increased by upcoming announcements and a future free trade deal. Also Read | IAF shelves plan to buy 48 Russian Mi-17 V5s to boost ‘Make in India’ -PTC News