Together with his Indian counterpart PM Narendra Modi, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a scheme that will allow 3,000 young Indian graduates to work and live in the UK for up to two years.

“I know first-hand the incredible value of the deep cultural and historic ties we have with India. I am pleased that even more of India’s brightest young people will now have the opportunity to experience all that life in the UK has to offer – and vice-versa – making our economies and societies richer,” said UK PM Rishi Sunak.

According to the UK government, the inauguration of the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme represents an ‘important milestone’ in the two nations’ bilateral relationship.

India is a priority for the UK, with more linkages than virtually any other country in the Indo-Pacific area, and a trade agreement is now being negotiated. The trade connection between the United Kingdom and India is already worth £24 billion.

The United Kingdom also emphasized the importance of India as a source of foreign students, citing the fact that over a quarter of all international students in the United Kingdom are from India.