India and UK are interested to conclude the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) at the earliest as intensive discussions are underway keeping in view that it proves to be a win-win situation for both sides, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
Responding to a question on the status of the FTA, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a weekly presser said, “There is interest in both sides to conclude the FTA at the earliest. Diwali has been set as a goal. Intensive discussions are underway towards this and they are continuing.”
There are reports that UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman in an interview has talked about “reservations” over the proposed FTA and has linked it to illegal immigration.
Speaking about the reports, Bagchi said, “Migration mobility is an important element and there’s understanding about it. Whenever there is an Indian citizen abroad we strongly encourage legal migration.
“We will expect the UK side to show demonstrable action on it.”
Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had said that UK is “working intensely” with India to achieve FTAs soon.
“We have signed Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand – and we are working intensely to agree one with India soon”, the foreign secretary Cleverly said.
In a keynote speech at the 9th Annual Milken Asia Summit, the UK foreign secretary noted, “We were the first European country to secure a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. And we intend to be the first European country to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.”
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It will give the region access to the UK’s world-class financial services sector as well as, as well as the world’s sixth largest economy. That’s why engagement between the UK and Indo-Pacific needs to cover the broadest spectrum of activity.”
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had said the UK is keen to stick to the Diwali deadline for India-UK free trade agreement and both countries are working towards it.