PM Modi UK visit: Deals worth several billions eyed

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Deals worth several billions are being eyed as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's begins his visit to Britain on Thursday.

"Leaving for UK. I am hopeful this visit will strengthen economic ties between India and UK & bring more investment to India. #makeinindia," he tweeted before starting his three-day visit this morning.

Diplomats say deals worth 8-12 billion pounds ($12-18 billion) could be signed during his visit to London, with the Indian leader keen to buy 20 more BAE Systems Hawk trainer aircraft to be made in Bengaluru.

The emotional high point of the visit is likely to be a mass rally at Wembley Stadium on Friday during which Modi will address some 60,000 supporters from the Indian diaspora in Britain, which numbers 1.5 million.

On Thursday, Modi will meet his British counterpart David Cameron and the pair will hold a joint news conference.

He will then address the British parliament, before heading to the Guildhall, a historic building in the heart of the City of London financial district, where he will give a speech to a business audience.

Modi will also hold a CEOs round-table which is likely to include representatives from major British companies like Rolls-Royce and Vodafone.

Cameron's office said Britain would seek to promote London as a centre for offshore rupee bonds and Indian companies were expected to announce plans to issue debt denominated in their own currency.

A visit to the Tata Motors' owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) factory in Solihull, in the West Midlands region of England, will be the last item on his UK agenda.

With Agencies Inputs