London: India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said on Indian Independence Day that the two nations need each other in a volatile world, stressing that the recently concluded Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement will drive growth forward.

Speaking to IANS in London, Doraiswami noted: “I see huge prospects. The UK and India need each other in today’s volatile world, and it is very relevant that we have concluded a comprehensive economic trade agreement, which will significantly impact both countries in driving growth forward. Partnerships are about win-win solutions, and the India–UK partnership is exactly that.”

Doraiswami called the India–UK Free Trade Agreement the “most forward-looking FTA.” He said the pact would not only strengthen trade but also spur cooperation in technology and education. Southampton University has become the first foreign university to open a campus in India, offering world-class education without the need to travel abroad.

Signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UK visit in July, the FTA is expected to boost bilateral trade by USD 34 billion annually.

Doraiswami also reflected on PM Modi’s 79th Independence Day address on August 15, the longest yet at 1 hour 43 minutes. “The Prime Minister’s announcements, including GST reform by Diwali and projects like jet engine indigenisation, show India’s determination to strengthen self-reliance and growth as we move towards 2047—India’s centenary of independence,” he said.