Negotiations for an ambitious Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the UK and India are well advanced. Giving this information, an official of Britain's Foreign Ministry said that the next round of talks with India would start very soon. He said that a strong trade agreement can boost the country's economy.

India and Britain are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement to encourage mutual trade and investment. Both the countries want to materialize this agreement soon. Lord Tariq Ahmed, Minister for South Asian Affairs in the UK Foreign Office, said that Britain's relations with India are at the heart of its foreign policy.

Ahmed was replying to a debate in the House of Lords on Thursday titled 'The importance of the relationship between the UK and India'. The debate was initiated by British Indian Baroness Sandy Verma. Ahmed confirmed that negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have progressed "very well", and the next round of talks is set to begin very soon.

It is true that the UK's relationship with India is at the heart of our foreign policy. We are looking to further strengthen this relationship." He said that as one of the world's largest and fastest growing economies, India-UK is a key partner.