In exchange for a free trade agreement, UK Prime Minister Johnson has indicated that more visas will be issued to Indians

*Paromita Das

According to Reuters, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has indicated that he is willing to offer more visas to Indians in exchange for a free trade agreement.

“I have always supported talented people coming to this country,” Johnson told reporters on his way to India.

“Our economy is short hundreds of thousands of people, and we need to take a progressive approach, which we will,” he added.

Johnson arrived in Ahmedabad, Gujarat state, on Thursday to begin his two-day visit to India. His visit comes against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific situation.
The British prime minister is expected to announce a slew of commercial agreements, according to reports.

According to the UK High Commission, British and Indian businesses will confirm more than a billion pounds in new investments and export deals ranging from software engineering to health, creating nearly 11,000 jobs across the UK.

“As I arrive in India today, I am struck by the vast possibilities for what our two great nations can accomplish together.” From next-generation 5G telecoms and artificial intelligence to new collaborations in health research and renewable energy, the UK and India are leading the world,” Johnson was quoted as saying by the high commission.
“Our powerhouse partnership is creating jobs, growth, and opportunities for our people, and it will only get stronger in the coming years,” he said.

After wrapping up his engagements in Gujarat on Thursday, Johnson will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday.

The British Prime Minister will pay a visit to a new factory in Gujarat being opened by a top British firm, as well as a biotechnology university working in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh.

The high commission said in a statement that Johnson’s visit to India will be used to “boost our collaboration with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, slashing trade barriers for UK businesses and driving jobs and growth at home.”