MUMBAI: Sir Keir Starmer, on his first visit to India, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country’s financial capital, Mumbai.

The UK prime minister is on a two-day trade mission with the largest-ever delegation of more than 100 CEOs, entrepreneurs, university vice-chancellors, and cultural leaders.

Modi described the visit as “historic,” with discussions focusing on expanding business and trade ties following the landmark UK-India trade deal signed in July.

On Thursday, Sir Keir announced that more UK universities would establish campuses in India, projected to bring a £50 million boost to the UK economy. The University of Lancaster and the University of Surrey have received approval for new campuses.

“I’m delighted that more Indian students will be able to benefit from a world-class British education in the near future – strengthening the ties between our two countries while pumping millions back into our economy and supporting jobs at home,” Sir Keir said.

The UK already has a growing network of international campuses in India, with the University of York, University of Aberdeen, and Queen’s University Belfast expected to open campuses from as early as next year.

Thousands of banners and photos of Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Modi line parts of Mumbai that the two leaders are scheduled to travel through, reflecting the enthusiastic welcome.

On his first day, Sir Keir met Nandan Nilekani, the founder of India’s digital ID system, amid UK plans to introduce a compulsory digital ID for all workers. Over 2.8 million people have signed a petition opposing the UK’s plan, but Downing Street maintains it will help curb illegal employment.

Sir Keir also announced that Yash Raj Films will produce three Bollywood films in the UK starting in 2026, ending an eight-year hiatus of Bollywood productions in Britain.

The UK government reported that the yet-to-be-implemented trade deal has already generated £1 billion in investment and created nearly 7,000 jobs in the UK.

Under the deal, India’s average tariff on UK products will fall from 15% to 3%. The UK will reduce taxes on Indian clothing, footwear, jewellery, and frozen seafood, while India will cut duties on Scotch whisky, cosmetics, medical devices, and luxury cars.

The trade agreement is expected to increase the UK’s GDP by £4.8 billion annually and raise trade between the two countries by £25.5 billion a year by 2040. Last year, UK-India trade reached £42.6 billion and was already on a growth trajectory.

Before arriving in India, Sir Keir stated that the UK would not relax visa rules for India but highlighted “massive opportunities” to enhance trade and cultural relations.

His visit comes amid strained relations between India and the US following President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on India, including a 25% penalty on Russian oil purchases. India and the US have been negotiating a trade deal for months but have not yet reached a major breakthrough.