- Home
- About
- Globally Speaking
- Videos
- Podcast
- Geopolitics
- Industry
- SIGN UP
From charter flights for stranded Britons to be repatriated to a crucial consignment of paracetamol, the pandemic has proved that the UK-India relationship remains strong.
Highlights:
India extended a helping hand to the UK by exporting a consignment of 2,800,000 packets of paracetamol.
A total of 38 charter flights have been laid out to repatriate an estimated 5,000 British residents stranded in India.
The FCO has announced a series of measures including an extension to any expiring visas until the end of May and steps to safeguard university accommodation for Indian students unable to return home.
It was not long ago that the focus of stronger UK-India relations revolved around Brexit and the opportunities thrown up by a Britain freed up from the so-called shackles of the European Union (EU) and its freedom of movement regulations. A free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and India was seen as a very real possibility, given an increasing alignment between the two countries on geopolitical issues and not least because of the camaraderie shared between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Indian PM Narendra Modi.
But fast-forward just a few weeks and the global scenario is very different even from when the UK formally left the EU on 31 January to enter into its ongoing transition period. The coronavirus pandemic took over the entire world by a kind of storm never witnessed in generations. It is in times of crisis that the true strength of relationships - at a personal or even at a worldwide level - are really tested. And, that has certainly been the case with the UK-India partnership, long held up for its great promise but thrown into a different kind of orbit during the global lockdown imposed on swathes of the global population as governments struggle to come to terms with the fallout of an invisible enemy in the form of a deadly virus.
"Coronavirus is the largest threat we have all faced in decades, so it's imperative that we work together to continue global trade and keep supply chains open. I'd like to extend a big thank you to officials both in the UK and India who worked hard on this agreement and I look forward to working with India and other countries soon to ensure we beat COVID-19,” said UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, in reference to the first consignment of 2,800,000 packets of paracetamol being flown from India to be distributed across British supermarkets and retailers. The shipment followed India's decision to lift export restrictions on essential drugs, but further discussions were required for the UK's urgent need for paracetamol. There are assurances in place for further consignments to be flown in as required. “Global cooperation is critical in the fight against COVID-19. UK and India have a track record of working together as a Force for Good, tackling global challenges,” noted Jan Thompson, the Acting British High Commissioner to India, as she personally thanked PM Modi for approving the export.
