India and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in innovation, technology, research, startups and emerging technologies, as Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with UK Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle on Sunday.
Sharing details of the discussion, Goyal said both sides explored new avenues to strengthen bilateral partnerships that can drive economic growth and create shared prosperity. The talks focused on expanding collaboration in high-growth sectors, including innovation, research, technology and startup ecosystems.
The engagement comes as India and the United Kingdom work towards operationalising their proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a key pillar of efforts to enhance bilateral economic ties. The agreement is seen as a major step in boosting trade, investment and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal recently said that both countries are close to implementing the pact, although discussions continue on a few outstanding issues, including the UK’s recent steel trade measures. According to Agrawal, both sides are working to find a mutually acceptable solution to address these concerns.
Meanwhile, UK Member of Parliament Bob Blackman noted that while substantial progress has been made in trade negotiations, several important issues remain under discussion, particularly tariff reductions, market access and professional services.
India and the UK have steadily expanded cooperation across trade, investment, defence, education and technology in recent years. The latest ministerial engagement underscores the shared intent to advance economic and strategic partnerships while unlocking new opportunities in innovation-led sectors.