British PM Theresa May set to pay maiden visit to India in November

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday that she will visit India in November for her first bilateral visit outside Europe. Further, she will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reviewing various aspects of  India-UK strategic partnership post-Brexit.

May, 60, will be in India between November 6 and 8 on the invitation of Modi. She will be accompanied by her international trade minister Liam Fox and a business delegation drawn from regionsacross the UK as "examples of the best of British business".

"The relationships between our two countries are strong,and the Indian diaspora plays a vital role in our nationallife," May said. "In my talks with Prime Minister Modi, I want to build on our relationship for the benefit of both our countries, generating jobs and wealth and maintaining cooperation on defence and security," the Prime Minister said.

"As we leave the European Union, we have the chance to forge a new global role for the UK, to look beyond our continent and towards the economic and diplomaticopportunities in the wider world. I am determined to capitalise on those opportunities and as we embark on the trade mission to India, we will send the message that the UK will be the most passionate, most consistent, and most convincing advocate for free trade," May said.

While in India, the British Prime Minister will hold discussions with Modi and a number of commercial deals areexpected to be signed during the visit. The India-UK partnership has moved into a new era, with Britain voting to leave the European Union (EU) in a referendum in June and leading to the resignation of then prime minister David Cameron. May will land in New Delhi, where she will inaugurate the India-UK TECH Summit alongside Modi.

The TECH Summit, described as South Asia's largesttechnology conference, will provide a platform for promoting technology-intensive trade between the two countries. Fox will also attend another major international event, the Joint Economic and Trade Committee where UK and Indian leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs will meet to discuss how to take the bilateral partnership to the next level.