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UK Minister Seema Malhotra bolsters India ties on first official visit
Her visit is aimed at reviewing the early impact of the trade pact while advancing cooperation in education, manufacturing, technology and migration safeguards.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 21, Nov 2025
- 15:12 EST
- 10
Seema Malhotra / X (Seema Malhotra)
The United Kingdom’s Indo-Pacific minister, Seema Malhotra, began her first official visit to India on Nov. 20 to strengthen ties following the signing of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) earlier this year.
Malhotra commenced the visit in Bengaluru before travelling to Chennai on Nov. 21. The trip is aimed at advancing cooperation under the FTA, which the UK values at £25.5 billion (around USD 32.5 billion) in additional bilateral trade.
Also Read: UK expands visa fraud prevention drive to Tamil Nadu
In Chennai, Malhotra attended an event marking the agreement, writing on X, “Driving growth and opportunity through UK-India trade. Tonight in Chennai, we celebrated the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, a historic deal worth £25.5 billion that will create jobs and opportunities across both nations. Stronger together, building a brighter future.”
Driving growth and opportunity through UK-India trade.
— Seema Malhotra MP (@SeemaMalhotra1) November 21, 2025
Tonight in Chennai, we celebrated the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, a historic deal worth £25.5 billion that will create jobs and opportunities across both nations.
Stronger together, building a brighter future. … pic.twitter.com/wWLrJi2xNH
She also welcomed the opening of Lloyd’s List Intelligence’s Global Capability Centre in the city, describing it as a UK–India partnership that would expand maritime intelligence and create skilled technology jobs.
Where tech meets trade: @LLIntelligence opens its Global Capability Centre in Chennai.
— Seema Malhotra MP (@SeemaMalhotra1) November 21, 2025
This UK-India partnership will drive maritime intelligence, create skilled jobs, and boost innovation in global shipping. #UKIndia #FutureofTrade pic.twitter.com/VnuRMUnC2W
Malhotra announced a new academic partnership between IIT Madras and the University of Surrey, which will give UK students access to semiconductor research training in India.
Opening doors for future innovators.
— Seema Malhotra MP (@SeemaMalhotra1) November 21, 2025
A new partnership between @iitmadras & @UniofSurrey will give UK students hands-on experience in semiconductor research with one of India’s top tech institutions.
Building skills, networks and careers for tomorrow. #UKIndia #FutureTech pic.twitter.com/0oZn3LSMDN
She also launched the Tamil Nadu phase of the UK’s visa-fraud awareness campaign, expanding a pilot already underway in Punjab and aimed at warning families about fraudulent migration agents and strengthening official mobility pathways.
Her Chennai engagements follow the Bengaluru leg of the visit, where she inaugurated Tesco’s new office and met senior representatives from BT, Pearson, Revolut, Marks & Spencer and Equiniti to discuss business opportunities arising from the FTA.
She also confirmed the return of the British Council’s Women in STEM Scholarship programme for South Asia. The 2026–27 cycle will award 10 fully funded master’s scholarships worth £400,000 (about USD 500,000).
The UK government projects the FTA will raise Britain’s GDP by £4.8 billion annually (about USD 6.1 billion) and increase wages by £2.2 billion (around USD 2.8 billion). Malhotra’s meetings with industry leaders have focused on how the deal is shaping investment plans, research ties and supply-chain expansion.
Earlier in the visit, she met Karnataka’s Industries Minister M. B. Patil and Higher Education Minister Dr. M. C. Sudhakar to discuss advanced manufacturing and research collaboration.
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