As per the reports, British PM Boris Johnson, who is on his 2-day visit to India from today, will meet PM Narendra Modi and will discuss the situation in the Indo-Pacific. British PM Boris Johnson’s visit to India will give a fresh push to the proposed free trade agreement, boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and enhance defence ties.
The British PM has today visited the Sabarmati Ashram with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Bhai Patel, where he spun the ‘charkha’, which is a token of respect to Mahatma Gandhi who promoted and advocated the use of ‘charkha’ and ‘khadi’ clothes throughout his life.
The UK PM Boris Johnson will be gifted two unpublished books written by the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi as a token of remembrance.
News agency ANI tweeted:
“The Spirit’s Pilgrimage’, the autobiography of Madeleine Slade or Mirabehn who became the Mahatma Gandhi’s disciple will be gifted to UK PM Boris Johnson by Sabarmati Ashram”.
One more book “Guide to London”, a travel guide written by Mahatma Gandhi, will also be given to the British PM Boris Johnson.
Before leaving, Johnson will visit the Mira Kutir where Mirabehn or Madeleine Slade lived (the daughter of British Rear admiral Sir Edmond Slade and Florence Madeleine). Mirabehn had devoted her life to championing Gandhiji’s principles.
Apart from this, Boris Johnson will spend 30 minutes at the new Gujarat Biotechnology University near GIFT City. The state government had engaged the University of Edinburgh to set up the country’s first biotech varsity. GBU has a semi-developed lab on the second floor which Johnson will visit and then he will observe a robot performing an artificial limb surgery, on the ground floor.
According to UK-India Business Council, the free trade agreement between India and the UK will open new opportunities to boost bilateral trade. “UK-based companies can set up a manufacturing base in India under the Make in India initiative and export from here,” said Kevin McCole, managing director, UKIBC, in a virtual interaction with TOI.
“On the other hand, Indian companies will also get the benefit of lower tariffs to export”, he further added.
According to UKIBC, auto components, electric vehicles, defence, aerospace, IT and ITeS, healthcare, and food & beverages are among the sectors in which the UK firms are expected to invest.
