New Delhi, July 15 (IANS). Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday met European Union (EU) Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maros Shefkovic to review the progress made towards the implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (India-EU FTA).
Piyush Goyal said in a post on social media platform X that the two leaders also discussed new opportunities to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, critical technologies and resilient supply chains.
In March this year also, Goyal and Shefkovich had met during the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held in Cameroon. In that meeting also, both sides had reviewed the progress being made towards finalizing the India-EU FTA.
The process of signing the FTA between India and the EU is being moved forward to January 2026 following the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi.
During his visit to Brussels, Piyush Goyal also met Bernd Lange, Chairman of the International Trade Committee (INTA) of the European Parliament. He said the two leaders discussed the vast opportunities that the India-EU FTA will provide to businesses, industries and people of both sides, which will pave the way for a prosperous economic partnership in the future. Goyal also invited Bernd Lange to visit India, so that cooperation between the two sides can be further strengthened.
Earlier, India and Belgium had also discussed measures to increase cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, technology, logistics and workforce mobility. Piyush Goyal held a meeting with David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy and Agriculture of Belgium, and discussed strengthening the economic relations between the two countries.
Goyal said the two sides also shared views on the transformative potential of the India-EU FTA and reiterated their commitment to further strengthen economic ties keeping in mind the mutual interests of business and people of the two countries.
Besides this, the Union Minister also met EU Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Development Wopke Hookstra. During this, there was discussion between India and the European Union on increasing cooperation in the areas of clean development, tackling climate change and sustainable industrial development.
The meeting laid special emphasis on enhancing cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, green hydrogen, clean technology, innovation, investment and strong value chains, so that both sides can move forward together towards achieving their common net-zero goals.
–IANS
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