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The FTA’s true significance, he says, lies not just in the immediate economic uptick, but in its potential to shape a qualitatively better relationship for future generations
The Free Trade Agreement, Tharoor wrote, is a profound testament to a maturing partnership and a critical investment in the prosperity and opportunities for future generations in both nations. File pic/PTI
The India-United Kingdom trade deal is an inflexion point, a strategic pivot that promises to redefine the contours of a historically rich yet often complex relationship, Congress leader and former external affairs minister Shashi Tharoor has said.
The Free Trade Agreement, he wrote in an opinion piece for NDTVis a profound testament to a maturing partnership and a critical investment in the prosperity and opportunities for future generations in both nations.
“For too long, the narrative of Indo-UK relations has been shadowed by the echoes of a colonial past,” he said. “While that history must never be forgotten, it is equally crucial to acknowledge the evolving dynamics of a modern, democratic India and a globally engaged Britain.”
From India’s perspective, the agreement offers unprecedented market access to one of the world’s most sophisticated economies, Tharoor pointed out. “With 99% of Indian exports gaining duty-free access to the UK market, sectors like textiles, leather goods, marine products, gems and jewellery, and engineering goods stand to gain immensely,” he wrote, calling it “a powerful enabler of the ‘Make in India’ initiative”.
The potential for Indian farmers to access premium UK markets for agricultural produce, with tariffs eliminated on 95% of agricultural and processed food exports, adding that the easing of professional mobility for Indian skilled workers and professionals into 35 UK sectors for up to two years, without the need for a local office, is a game-changer for India’s services sector.
The true significance of the agreement, the Congress leader wrote, lies not just in the immediate economic uptick, but in its potential to shape a qualitatively better relationship for future generations.
“By institutionalising frameworks for cooperation in areas beyond traditional trade, such as innovation, research, climate action, and education, the CETA lays a robust foundation for a truly comprehensive partnership. The ‘Vision 2035’ roadmap, agreed alongside the CETA, emphasises collaborations in defence, technology, and green energy, recognising the shared strategic interests and global challenges both nations face,” he said.
According to Tharoor, the trade deal stands as a powerful testament to the enduring value of international cooperation and open markets.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the significance of the trade agreement for future generations. Indeed, for the young, this agreement is not just a trade deal; it is an inheritance of enhanced opportunities, deeper cultural understanding, and a more interconnected and prosperous world. It is an inflexion point—indeed, a turning of the page—to a qualitatively better, and brighter, shared future,” he wrote.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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