India-UK Virtual Summit
Source : Indian Express
GS II : Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Why in News?

Prime Minister of India and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom held a India-UK Virtual Summit and adopted an ambitious Roadmap 2030.

Key Facts

• India and the UK enjoy long standing friendly ties and share a Strategic Partnership by mutual commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.
• Roadmap 2030 :
  • Its was adopted at the Summit to elevate bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.
  • The Roadmap will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years
  • It will focus on the key areas of people to people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health.
• Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP)
  • To unleash the trade potential between the 5th and 6th largest economies of the world and by setting an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
  • As part of the ETP India and the UK agreed on a roadmap to negotiate a comprehensive and balanced FTA, including consideration of an Interim Trade Agreement for delivering early gains.
  • The enhanced trade partnership between India and UK will generate several thousands of direct and indirect jobs in both the countries.
• Global Innovation Partnership
  • GIP was announced at the Virtual Summit that aims to support the transfer of inclusive Indian innovations to select developing countries, starting with Africa.
  • Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on new and emerging technologies, including Digital and ICT products, and work on supply chain resilience.
  • They also agreed to strengthen defence and security ties, including in the maritime, counter-terrorism and cyberspace domains.
• Maritime Domain Awareness
  • It includes new agreements on maritime information sharing an invitation to the UK to join India’s Information Fusion Centre in Gurgaon and an ambitious exercise programme which includes joint trilateral exercises.
• Two countries agreed to build on existing government-to-government collaboration on India’s future combat air engine requirement.
• Agreed to work together to ensure an ambitious outcome at COP26 and expand the UK-India partnership on tackling climate change
  • By accelerating the development of clean energy and transport and new technology
  • Protecting nature and biodiversity and helping developing countries adapt to the impact of climate change.

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