भारत-ब्रिटेन में दिवाली तक फ्री ट्रेड डील की उम्मीद: लेबर सरकार कई मुद्दों पर सहमत, पहली बार 20 हजार भारतीयों को अस्थायी वीजा देगा

India was not able to agree with the Sunak government on some issues. The disagreements have been resolved in the Labour Party government.

There is almost a consensus on the issues required for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Britain. India is going to get a big benefit from FTA. For the first time, about 20 thousand Indians will get temporary visas every year. This visa will be given to Indian skilled professionals. With this, Indian professionals will be able to work in Britain for 2 months to one year.

India had been demanding relaxation in visa laws for FTA from Britain for a long time. India’s talks with the Sunak government did not work out as they were unable to reach a consensus on this. In fact, due to the anti-immigrant policies of the Conservative Party, there was opposition to giving visa relaxation to Indian professionals.

Now Keir Starmer’s Labour government has accepted India’s demand regarding visa. Britain’s new government’s foreign minister David Lammy recently held the 14th round of talks with the Indian side. According to Kevin McColl, MD of Britain-India Business Council, the FTA will be sealed this year. There is a possibility that the FTA will be implemented by Diwali.

The FTA deal between India and UK was to be done last year but the Sunak government could not fulfill some of the demands of India.

India forced Britain to accept its conditions on skilled professionals

Indians were ahead in the number of skilled professionals going to Britain. Britain issued visas to 50 thousand Indian professionals last year. Indians demand that along with the skilled professionals category given for five years, temporary visas should also be issued. This will benefit the economy of Britain.

Due to non-issuance of temporary visas, Indian professionals have started moving to America, Australia and New Zealand. To stop this, Britain agreed to accept India’s condition. Indians on temporary visas are also exempted from the National Health Service (NHS) fee of Rs 1 lakh. People living in Britain have to pay NHS tax.

FTA with India is necessary for Britain after Brexit

FTAs with big economies are necessary since Britain left the European Union (EU) in 2016. Britain has so far done FTAs ​​with Australia and New Zealand. Talks are going on with Canada. India is a big market, so Britain wants to do an FTA deal with India.

Being in the European Union, Germany, France and Italy are rapidly progressing in the European markets. Whereas Britain is lagging behind. Keir Starmer of the Labour Party in Britain had promised the British voters during the elections that if he comes to power, he will take the FTA with India to new heights.

During the Conservative Party’s Rishi Sunak government, the Labour Party’s shadow trade minister also visited India. He has kept his promise after the elections. (File photo)

Britain wants to enter the service sector, but India is not ready
Britain wants to enter India’s service sector through FTA. But the Indian side has not yet approved it. Britain wants to bring its legal and financial firms to India. Britain also wants a reduction in taxes on cars and alcohol.

The British government says that its companies have to suffer business losses by paying taxes on British cars and alcohol. At the same time, India wants to get its dairy products entry in the British markets. Talks are going on between the two for this.

The target of trade between the two countries is Rs 8 lakh crore
India and Britain’s Keir Starmer government have set a target of trade worth Rs 8 lakh crore under the Roadmap 2030. Trade worth Rs 4 lakh crore is estimated between the two countries in 2023-24. According to a report, trade between India and Britain was Rs 1 lakh 452 thousand crore in 2021-22 while in 2022-23 it was Rs 1 lakh 45 thousand crore.

Rishi Sunak will be removed from the post of Leader of Opposition: Indian-origin Priti Patel is ahead in the race, she was Sunak’s staunch opponent in the party

The election process for the post of president has begun in Britain’s Conservative Party. 6 candidates have filed nominations to take over the reins of the party in place of Rishi Sunak. There will be a competition among them for this for 3 months.

The Conservative Party suffered a crushing defeat in the elections held on July 4. Due to this, they lost 14 years of power. After the elections, Sunak did not resign from the post of party chief. He is the leader of the opposition in Parliament. Read full news here…