To boost ties, Sitharaman to visit UK next week

Issues related to the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) and bilateral investment treaty between India and the UK are expected to figure during the three-day visit of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to London from April 8-10, official sources said.

The minister will attend a host of meetings, including the India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, in London. She is likely to hold a bilateral meeting with UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and other ministers.

“Issues pertaining to the trade pact and bilateral investment treaty may also come up for discussions between the two,” the official said. Though negotiations for a free trade agreement fall under the domain of the Union Commerce Ministry, issues like the investment treaty and norms related to financial services come under the Finance Ministry.