Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal held discussions with a high-level Indian business delegation in Brussels on the potential benefits of the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for industry, MSMEs and consumers.
The interaction brought together representatives from leading industry bodies, including the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
Sharing details of the meeting in a post on X, Goyal said the discussions focused on how the India-EU FTA could create new opportunities for Indian industry and deliver tangible benefits for businesses, MSMEs and the people.
The meeting followed the third India-EU Business Roundtable held on Wednesday, which was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada. The roundtable discussed ways to deepen the India-Europe partnership through enhanced trade and investment, with the proposed Free Trade Agreement playing a key role.
In a separate post on X, Jaishankar said he met Matthias Diependaele and Adrien Dolimont, the Minister-Presidents of Flanders and Wallonia, along with business representatives from India and Europe.
He said the discussions reflected strong enthusiasm for expanding collaboration in business, investment and research and development. Jaishankar also highlighted the growing trust in the India-Europe partnership and underlined the importance of the proposed India-EU FTA in unlocking its full potential.
Commenting on the Business Roundtable, Goyal said the deliberations reflected a shared commitment to strengthening economic ties through greater cooperation in trade, investment, technology and innovation, while exploring new opportunities for business partnerships.
As part of his engagements in Brussels, Jaishankar also met European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva to discuss cooperation in clean and green energy technologies, innovation hubs, startups and India’s association with Horizon Europe.
He also held talks with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, focusing on enhancing cooperation in connectivity, trilateral partnerships, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and green shipping. (ANI)
