UK PM Keir Starmer's India visit highlights: 12 key outcomes in tech, education, trade, and research

A video of Keir Starmer speaking in Hindi went viral

The two-day visit of United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer to India from October 8-9 concluded with 12 significant outcomes, marking a strong push in India-UK cooperation across technology, trade, education, health, and research, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday.

A major outcome of the visit was the establishment of the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre, which will enhance collaboration in frontier technologies. The India-UK Joint Centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI) was also launched, along with Phase II of the UK-India Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory. To further secure green technology and supply chains, the Critical Minerals Industry Guild has been created.

Education partnerships saw an important boost. The MEA confirmed the handover of the Letter of Intent for Lancaster University to set up its campus in Bengaluru and the in-principle approval for the University of Surrey to open in GIFT City. Additionally, nine other UK universities received clearance to open campuses across India: Southampton University in Gurgaon; Queen’s Belfast University, Coventry University, University of Surrey, and University of Bristol in GIFT City; University of York and University of Aberdeen in Mumbai; and University of Liverpool and University of Lancaster in Bengaluru.

Trade and business cooperation were also in focus. The two countries held the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted India-UK CEO Forum and agreed to reset the India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO). According to the MEA, this reset will “support the implementation of the CETA and drive economic growth and job creation in both countries.”

On innovation and sustainability, the visit saw the launch of a joint Climate Technology Startup Fund -- a key initiative under the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK government and the State Bank of India -- aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in sectors like climate technology and AI.

In the health and research sector, a Letter of Intent was signed between India’s Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to strengthen health research collaboration. The visit also included the launch of Phase III of the Bio-Medical Research Career Program and the formation of an Offshore Wind Taskforce.

Describing the outcomes as “a major step forward in bilateral cooperation,” the MEA said the visit has laid the groundwork for deeper India-UK engagement in key areas of growth and innovation.

With inputs from ANI