PM Modi, Boris Johnson Set Diwali Deadline For India-UK Free Trade Agreement

On the eve of the visit, officials had confirmed that four out of 26 chapters within the FTA have been finalised

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart, Boris Johnson, set the negotiating teams on both sides a Diwali deadline for the conclusion of an India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) during bilateral discussions in New Delhi on Friday. 

Diwali this year falls on October 24 and this new goal has been pushed forward from the previous timeline of striking a deal by the end of this year.

Johnson, on the final day of his two-day visit to India, said the FTA could double India-UK trade by 2030 and drive down consumer prices.

"Today Prime Minister Modi and I told our negotiators to get it done by Diwali in October," said Johnson.