In Manchester to open a consulate, Jaishankar says India-U.K. ties to expand and deepen

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurates new consulate in Manchester, highlighting positive shift in India-UK relationship.

Approaching the end of his official tour of the U.K. and Ireland, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurated a new consulate in Manchester on Saturday (March 8, 2025) and visited the Lancashire Cricket Club at the Old Trafford cricket ground. He spoke at both locations of a positive shift and expansion in the India-UK relationship.

U.K. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who is from Stockport, outside Manchester,  and Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, were among those present.

Mr Jaishankar said there was nothing more fitting than  “to  have a consul general inaugurate her consulate” on International Women’s Day, referring to India’s new Consul General in Manchester, Vishakha Yaduvanshi.

“We are making up for a lot of things perhaps we could have and should have done earlier,” Mr Jaishankar said, adding that today’s inauguration was a testament to how the India-UK relationship had changed.

“It is equally a preparation for what is to come,” he said.

“We are clearly anticipating a very big pickup in the relationship in the times to come,” he added.

 Mr Jaishankar emphasized this again while speaking to a gathering at the Lancashire Cricket Club, where he highlighted the role of the diaspora.