British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Thursday that India is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028, describing it as an emerging economic superpower. He emphasized that the United Kingdom is “perfectly positioned to be partners” in this journey, highlighting opportunities for collaboration in sectors of the future.

Starmer noted that the UK is one of only three countries with a trillion-dollar tech sector, while India is expected to join as the fourth. “Just look at the scale of India, the world’s largest democracy, progressing toward becoming the third-largest economy by 2028. The UK is well-placed to partner with India to build skills and industries of the future,” he said.

Highlighting the recently signed UK-India trade deal, Starmer described it as a launchpad to strengthen British leadership across technology, life sciences, renewable energy, and more. He said the deal has already secured £1.3 billion in investments into the UK, creating over 10,600 jobs across the country. Starmer led the largest-ever UK trade delegation to India, comprising 126 CEOs, tech entrepreneurs, SMEs, academics, and cultural leaders, to explore opportunities for British businesses in India. He emphasized that both nations are among the top four AI powers and are collaborating to advance technological innovation. Earlier, Starmer met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the India-UK CEOs Forum and Global Fintech Fest. He praised India’s growth trajectory and Modi’s vision for a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to being a partner in this journey.

Starmer also expressed support for India gaining a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and called the UK-India trade partnership “the most ambitious trade deal India has ever done.” He described the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed in July, as a breakthrough that provides duty-free access for 99% of Indian exports to the UK, boosting sectors from textiles and leather to engineering and auto components. He added that in a time of global uncertainty, the India-UK partnership remains a crucial pillar of stability, with both nations exchanging views on regional peace, the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.