Boris Johnson to visit India on April 21-22, jobs, defence on agenda

The meeting comes in the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in which PM Modi has taken a neutral stand.

"As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together," Johnson said in a statement before the visit.

Interestingly Boris Johnson has strongly slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to war-ravaged Ukraine.

The UK has imposed economic sanctions on Moscow and supplied weapons to Kyiv.

However, the Indian government has not openly condemned Russia or backed a UN Security Council vote that deplored Moscow's "aggression" against its neighbour.

Johnson said the visit on April 21-22 in India would focus on "the things that really matter to the people of both our nations- from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence".

"India, as a major economic power and the world's largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times," he added.

“My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence,” he said.

On April 21, Johnson will visit Ahmedabad in Gujarat where he is expected to announce investments in "key industries" in Britain and India.

This will be the first time a UK Prime Minister has visited Gujarat, India’s fifth largest state and the ancestral home of around half of the British-Indian population in the UK.

The British Prime Minister will then travel to New Delhi to meet PM Modi on April 22. The leaders will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India’s strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership, aimed at bolstering our close partnership and stepping up security co-operation in the Indo-Pacific.

"In Gujarat, the Prime Minister is expected to announce major investment in key industries in both the UK and India, boosting jobs and growth at home, as well as new collaboration on cutting-edge science, health and technology," a statement from British High Commission in India said.

"He will use the visit to drive progress in the Free Trade Agreement negotiations launched earlier this year – a deal with India is predicted to boost our total trade by up to £28 billion annually by 2035 and increase wages across the UK by up to £3 billion," it added.