So near and yet so far
Financial Express Mumbai|February 26, 2024
THE ONGOING VISIT of an Indian delegation led by commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal to the UK marks the last ditch effort to sew up a free trade agreement (FTA) before the two countries get into election mode.
MUKESH JAGOTA
  • INDIA, UK MAKE LAST DITCH ATTEMPT AHEAD OF POLLS TO SIGN TRADE DEAL

While negotiations began two years ago, several informal deadlines haven't been met; every time it looked like a deal was around the corner, differences cropped up.

Ahead of the visit, the team is understood to have received directions from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on further steps. PM Narendra Modi is believed to be keen to conclude the deal before the model code of conduct (MCC) for the general elections, expected by mid- or late March, comes into force. London may be equally enthusiastic as speculation is rife that Modi's counterpart Rishi Sunak could call for early elections in May, even though the current term of UK Parliament ends only in December. However, senior officials believe the MCC won't come in the way of a deal being signed since it is an ongoing negotiation.

While the proposed FTA may not be an election issue in India, it is certainly so in the UK, both for political and economic reasons. According to the 2011 Census of England and Wales, there were 1.4 million people of Indian origin residing in the UK, accounting for 2.5% of the overall population. The last British election saw 15 Indian-origin members of Parliament elected.

Many of them held high profile positions in the Cabinet and, and even Sunak is of Indian descent.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 26, 2024-Ausgabe von Financial Express Mumbai.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 26, 2024-Ausgabe von Financial Express Mumbai.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS FINANCIAL EXPRESS MUMBAIAlle anzeigen
Financial Express Mumbai

Murdoch ally helps Ambani build media empire in India

SOHEE KIM PR SANJAI

time-read
3 Minuten  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Pandya, Dube & Rinku: Can they finish for India at T20 World Cup?

GOING INTO THE 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia Dinesh Karthik was assigned the finisher role and the batting lineup was built accordingly.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Nestle adds sugar to infant milk and cereal, finds report

A NEW REPORT has revealed that Nestle, the world's largest consumer goods and manufacturer of baby formula, is adding sugar to infant milk and cereal products sold in India, and other Asian, and African countries.

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

India-made Daimler's electric mini truck to hit the road soon

INDIA WILL BE host to German trucking giant Daimler's only electric vehicle plant outside of Europe and Japan when it launches a locally-made electric light cargo truck in FY25.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
April 18, 2024
Samsung eyes ₹10,000 cr from India TV biz this year
Financial Express Mumbai

Samsung eyes ₹10,000 cr from India TV biz this year

SOUTH KOREAN GIANT Samsung is targeting a turnover of ₹10,000 crores for its television business in India this year, driven by growth in sales of its mid to-premium segment models, said Mohandeep Singh, senior VP, consumer electronics business in India.

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Microsoft AI Copilot speed boost for coding

WHEN SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Nikolai Avteniev got his hands on a preview version of Microsoft's Copilot coding assistant in 2021, he quickly saw the potential.

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

US, China debt pose risks for global public finances: IMF

THE WORLD's TWO great economic rivals, China and the US, will drive much of the increase in global public debt over the next five years, with US spending creating trouble for many other countries by keeping interest rates high, officials at the International Monetary Fund said in a report.

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Language models in consumer tech

This move is designed to ensure better user experience & privacy

time-read
2 Minuten  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

'Data centres' energy use doubles every four years'

Data centres are significant energy consumers, using about 2% of the world's power and emitting carbon dioxide equivalent to the airline industry.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Vi FPO: Foreign players invest big; about ₹5,400 crore raised

GQG, Fidelity buy almost 40% of the anchor investor portion

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024