New Delhi, June 2 (IANS) Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said he had “great conversations” with UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle on charting the next phase of India-UK economic engagement, advancing shared business priorities and further strengthening the “robust and forward-looking partnership” between the two countries.

In a post on social media platform X, Goyal said he was delighted to welcome Peter Kyle and his delegation to India.

“Delighted to welcome my friend, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, and his delegation to India,” he said.

“Had great conversations on charting the next phase of India-UK economic engagement, advancing shared business priorities, and further strengthening our robust and forward-looking partnership,” the minister added.

The meeting comes amid growing economic and trade cooperation between India and the United Kingdom following the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July 2025.

Earlier last month, Goyal had held a virtual interaction with the UK trade minister to explore ways to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties while fully leveraging opportunities under the India-UK CETA.

India has been actively expanding its network of free trade agreements (FTAs) in recent years as part of its broader strategy to strengthen global trade partnerships and integrate more deeply into global supply chains.

According to a recent report, India’s trade with strategic FTA partners grew 92 per cent between FY21 and FY25, significantly outpacing the 41.5 per cent increase in India’s overall merchandise trade with the rest of the world.

India currently has nine FTAs covering 38 countries, including agreements with the UAE, Australia, EFTA nations, the UK, Oman, New Zealand and the European Union.

Last month, Goyal also underlined the importance of a balanced and responsive World Trade Organization (WTO) that effectively addresses the concerns and aspirations of developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

–IANS

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