Davos, January 21 (IANS). Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the proposed trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU) will prove to be a game-changer for both sides. He said that India and the EU have strong and trustful relations and cooperation in various fields is continuously growing.
Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Chief Minister Sarma said Indian companies need access to different global markets, which will be fulfilled through the India-EU trade agreement.
He said, “Europe views India as a reliable partner. This is evident from EU leadership statements in recent times. EU statements also point to India emerging as a major global investment hub. India’s stable policies and fast-growing economy are attracting European investments and partnerships.”
The India-EU summit is scheduled for January 27. The meeting is taking place at a time when there is uncertainty in global markets due to the turmoil related to US tariffs and geopolitical changes.
Chief Minister Sarma said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently revised the estimate of India’s growth rate to 7.3 percent for the financial year 2025-26.
“India will soon become the world’s third largest economy in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). Apart from this, we also have many other strengths,” he said.
Sarma said that India is a mature democracy, where there is continuity and patience in policies. “Even if one or two strategies are not successful, there is no need to worry. We can turn to other markets. Our economy is strong and we also have a large domestic market,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that this is the first time that the Assam delegation has come to Davos. “It was our responsibility to present Assam to global leaders. People are listening to us and are also committing to investment,” he said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Sarma had said that the Assam government is preparing its youth for an automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based future. He informed that the state is paying special attention to industry-based skill development using its young demographic advantage.
Speaking at another WEF meeting, he spoke about how Assam is reshaping its skilling ecosystem in line with emerging technologies and future needs.
–IANS
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