UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set to join cricket fever in India

It is anticipated that the United Kingdom Prime Minister will attend the upcoming cricket match between India and England at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana (BRSBAVE) Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. This exciting match is scheduled to take place on October 29.

Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK

Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK, is planning to visit India at the end of this month for in-depth discussions concerning a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK, along with other bilateral issues. According to a report from TOI, Sunak’s visit is likely to commence on October 28. However, it’s important to note that nothing has been confirmed yet, and the visit won’t be contingent on the completion of FTA negotiations.

Despite the progress made in the FTA negotiations, both India and the UK are taking a cautious approach, not wanting to rush through the process. TOI reported that 24 out of the 26 chapters in the proposed FTA have been finalized. Efforts are ongoing to resolve the remaining contentious issues, such as the mobility of people and import duty concessions on specific items. Even if the agreement is not fully settled before Sunak’s visit, it is expected to help expedite the negotiations.

Rishi Sunak had previously visited India in September for the G20 Summit. During that visit, he had agreed with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have a bilateral meeting to work towards a free trade agreement (FTA). Sunak accepted Modi’s invitation for a bilateral visit at “an early, mutually convenient date,” as stated in a release by the Indian foreign ministry.

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