London: At the inaugural session of India Global Forum London 2025, India’s Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds jointly endorsed the recently concluded India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Addressing media concerns, both ministers strongly defended the national insurance exemption granted to short-term Indian workers under the FTA.
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Held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, the high-profile joint session marked the first public appearance of both leaders since the finalisation of the deal.
The provision for social security exemption had drawn criticism in certain UK political and media quarters, but both governments stood firm on the principle of fair treatment and mutual benefit.
“It’s unfair to call the exemption a giveaway,” said Piyush Goyal. “This agreement brings predictability and stability to businesses on both sides. Similar social security agreements exist globally. It’s about fairness and not double-taxing workers who already contribute to their home systems.”
UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds reinforced that British workers would not be adversely impacted by the deal.
“No British worker is undercut. Instead, the FTA enhances business mobility, improves services access, and strengthens procurement,” he noted.
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The ministers emphasized the strategic partnership and deepening alignment between India and the UK.
“We’ve built a trusted relationship,” Reynolds added. “India is one of the world’s most dynamic economies, and global challenges can’t be solved without India’s leadership.”
“There’s almost no competition – only complementarity,” Goyal noted. “This is a strategic marriage. I see bilateral trade doubling within five years.”
India Global Forum London 2025: Collaborative Momentum
Founder and Chairman of India Global Forum, Manoj Ladwa, echoed the sentiment of collaborative momentum: “At IGF, we’re connecting sectors, geographies, and generations. Our initiatives are outcome-driven and powered by technology, talent, and capital. We’re forging bridges between Global India and Global Britain.”
India Global Forum London 2025 kicked off with a three-day summit featuring over 100 speakers and 1,000+ participants, with sessions focused on AI, climate action, healthtech, global geopolitics, and the creative economy.
The forum spotlighted the FTA as a cornerstone for future-ready economic engagement between the UK and India.
