India to discuss post-brexit ties with British minister
NEW DELHI: India and the United Kingdom (UK) will discuss ways to enhance their bilateral ties following Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), especially the trade relationship and mobility of people, during the visit of British minister for Asia Mark Field to India.
Field, who is also the minister of state for the foreign and Commonwealth office since June 2017, is also likely to sign a pact on cyber security during his two-day visit beginning October 3.
The issue of cyber security — in discussion for some time between India and the UK — hasn’t made much progress in terms of the two sides agreeing on a definite plan for a cyber security agreement.
But the matter will be discussed at length when Field meets Union minister for information and technology Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Officials said the two sides have been discussing aspects of cyber security cooperation, especially on fixing greater accounta- bility on internet companies.
“The UK and India are natural partners in cyber security and we are committed to working with India to share best practise and threat analysis, as well as train and grow our cyber experts for the future,” Field said in the official release, announcing his visit.
The visit will see two sides discussing how the bilateral ties can progress after Brexit.
The two sides have been broadly discussing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) since 2007. Indian officials said the discussions on the FTA can happen only when UK leaves the European Union. India also doesn’t have an FTA with the European Union.
Various estimates show after Brexit, India-uk trade can go up by 18%.