New UK parliamentary group formed to promote trade and investment with India

27 Jul 2022 , 01:32 PM

With support from the British Indian think tank 1928 Institute, a new cross-party parliamentary group in the UK has been established to promote trade, investment, and people-to-people links with India.

25 members of Parliament and Lords with various political allegiances make up the India (Trade and Investment) All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), which was formally established last week as part of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

The new APPG hopes to support the ongoing India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations and promote its advantages once it is concluded. Its stated mission is to promote trade and investment between India and the UK for the mutual betterment of their citizens, while also creating an inclusive living bridge between the two countries.

The APPG is led by Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman, with Lord Meghnad Desai, Baroness Usha Prashar, Labour MP Virendra Sharma, and Conservative Party MP Gagan Mohnidra serving as vice chairmen. In the UK, APPGs are non-official, cross-party organizations made up of MPs and House of Lords members who have an interest in a certain policy topic, geographic area, or nation.