Modi's UK visit may net business deals worth $45 billion

Notwithstanding the setback in Bihar and subsequent criticism by his own party as well as allies; Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tour to the United Kingdom starting on Thursday, will have all the trappings of his high-visibility foreign visits so far.

Modi’s maiden visit to the UK as Prime Minister will primarily focus on exploring avenues for strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties. New Delhi is also expecting significant outcome in cooperation in defence and energy, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told journalists.

Business deals worth $45 billion are likely to be inked during the Prime Minister’s visit to London, as New Delhi is keen to woo UK companies to invest more in defence manufacturing and other sectors in India. Jaishankar said that New Delhi also expected progress in India-UK bilateral civil nuclear cooperation.

New Delhi may sign a deal with BAE Systems of UK to buy 20 more Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft for Indian Air Force. Of the 123 Hawk AJTs ordered previously, 106 were already manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in its facility in Bengaluru, under a technology transfer arrangement with BAE Systems.

Modi will meet his UK counterpart David Cameron twice during his three-day-visit. Cameron will host Modi not only at his official residence at 10 Downing Street in London, but also at his country house retreat at Chequers Court.

The Prime Minister will call on and have lunch with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London. He is also going to be the first Prime Minister of India to address the British Parliament, just as he did during his visits to Japan, Australia, Canada and several other nations in the past 18 months.

Meeting expat Indians has been another must-do for the Prime Minister during his tours abroad.  The visit to UK – home to 1.7 million British-Indians – will not be an exception.

Modi, who has already addressed conclaves of expat Indians at New York, California, Toronto, Sydney and Dubai, will do it again at Wembley Stadium on the outskirts of London. After the Bharatiya Janata Party’s rout in assembly polls in Bihar, the speech at Wembley Stadium will be the first public address by Modi, who previously drew flak from the opposition Congress for criticising the United Progressive Alliance Government during his overseas tours.