Prime Minister Narendra Modi met King Charles III at Sandringham House in the United Kingdom on Thursday, shortly after India and the UK signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The meeting underscored the growing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
The British royal family shared that King Charles received PM Modi and was presented with a tree sapling as a gift — a symbolic gesture tied to the Indian Prime Minister’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, which urges citizens to plant a tree in honour of their mothers. The sapling is scheduled to be planted this autumn.
This environmental initiative, recently launched as a national movement, reflects India's push for sustainability and personal responsibility toward climate action.
The meeting came just hours after the formal signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement in London, attended by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. The FTA, signed on July 24, is expected to increase bilateral trade by nearly $34 billion annually, making it India’s most ambitious trade deal in over a decade and the UK’s first major post-Brexit agreement.
PM Modi described the pact as a “new roadmap for shared prosperity,” emphasizing its benefits for farmers, fishermen, small businesses, and professionals.
The agreement grants near-zero duty access for Indian exports such as textiles, gems and jewellery, seafood, leather goods, engineering products, and processed foods, potentially creating a significant boost in Indian exports and job creation.
The high-level meeting and the agreement together mark a pivotal moment in India-UK relations, showcasing a blend of economic cooperation and shared values in sustainability and mutual respect.
