UK Cabinet Reshuffle: UKIBC extends congratulations to new appointments
By UK India Business Council (UKIBC)
On 15th and 16th September, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson conducted a major Cabinet reshuffle that resulted in a number of key changes of personnel.
The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) wishes to congratulate Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP upon her appointment as Secretary of State for International Trade and wish her every success in her endeavours.
The UKIBC looks forward to working with her and her team at what is a pivotal period for the UK-India relationship with FTA negotiations set to begin in a matter of weeks.
We wish the Rt Hon Liz Truss MP every success as Foreign Secretary and thank her for her leadership in strengthening the UK-India trade and investment partnership, particularly in securing the Enhanced Trade Partnership and laying such strong foundations for the UK-India FTA negotiations due to start later this year.
As Foreign Secretary, her continued involvement in the bilateral relationship can only be a positive for the UK and India, and we look forward to supporting her and her team in their new responsibilities.
The appointment of Ms Trevelyan takes place at a critical time for the UK-India relationship. On 4th May, Prime Ministers Johnson and Modi jointly announced the UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership, which included the ambition to double trade from 2019 levels by 2030 and to negotiate a free trade agreement.
Ms Truss, as Secretary of State for DIT, recently met virtually with her counterpart, Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal on Monday 13th September to discuss their respective Government’s consultations with businesses ahead of FTA negotiations. We understand that these were constructive as to the way forward.
The UKIBC has been pleased to support the consultations, making submissions to both Governments, and holding roundtables with more than 200 businesses in coordination with the Department for International Trade in the process. A summary of our submission will be available at www.ukibc.com from Monday 20th September.
The UKIBC will continue to work seamlessly with Ms Trevelyan and her team, at what is a pivotal period for the UK-India relationship with FTA negotiations set to begin in a matter of weeks to ensure that businesses voice is heard at this important period.
At the same we are pleased to note the following in relevant areas of DIT and FCDO:
- Lord Grimstone retains his position as Minister for Investment jointly at DIT and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and will continue his leadership to support the strong investment relationship between the UK and India.
- We extend our congratulations to the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, who takes up the role of Minister of State at DIT, replacing Greg Hands MP, and to Mike Freer MP, who takes up the role of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, replacing Graham Stuart MP
- Within the FCDO we extend congratulations to Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP; Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Minister for Equalities), Kemi Badenoch MP; and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Vicky Ford MP.
It is undoubtedly an exciting period for the UK-India relationship and we look forward to working with the DIT and FCDO and representing UK and Indian industries’ views.
