In a momentous declaration, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, currently in India to attend the G20 summit, expressed his profound connection to India and its people, emphasizing his pride in being a Hindu.
Sunak, whose wife is of Indian descent, affirmed, “Being a proud Hindu, I will always have a connection to India and its people. I am immensely proud of my Indian roots and my deep-seated ties to India.”
Furthermore, he lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, characterizing India as the ideal host for the G20 Presidency. Sunak articulated, “This country’s scale, diversity, and its extraordinary successes mean India is the right country at the right time to hold the G20 Presidency. I pay tribute to Prime Minister Modi’s leadership over the last year, and it’s wonderful to see India showing such global leadership.”
In a strategic move, Sunak underlined the forthcoming India-UK trade deal as “forward-looking” and “modern.” While acknowledging that there is still work to be done in finalizing the free trade pact, he exuded confidence that the agreement would be mutually beneficial. This deal is anticipated to grant Indian exporters access to the British market, including India’s vast small and medium-sized enterprises.
Sunak enthused, “A modern, forward-looking free trade agreement can put us firmly on the path to our shared ambition of doubling UK-India trade by 2030. It’s very exciting to have this opportunity to expand our trade relationship, and to be the first European country that India has negotiated a free trade deal with.”
As the G20 summit unfolds, these statements reflect the pivotal role of UK-India relations in shaping the global economic landscape, with both leaders expressing optimism for a prosperous future.
