Amid US-China trade tensions and economic vulnerabilities, India must seize the 'China +1' opportunity, deepen reforms, secure FTAs, and globalise its firms for long-term growth, suggests Ajay Shah.
India finalised a free trade agreement with the UK, its 16th so far as the country aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investments. The other regions and countries with which India has signed such agreements include the four-nation European bloc EFTA, Japan, Korea and Australia.
In reflection of their growing congruence in areas of defence and security, the two sides, following the Modi-Mitsotakis talks, agreed to set up an institutional dialogue at the level of national security advisors, and boost defence industrial cooperation.
India and Italy inked 15 pacts and finalised an ambitious action plan to further expand their ties following a virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte that primarily focused on ramping up economic engagement.
India is giving priority to boost trade with European Union and foresees no difficulty in signing a free trade and investment agreement with EU, notwithstanding wide differences between the two sides in the WTO over the Doha Round of trade talks. India and EU are negotiating a free trade and investment agreement aimed at phasing out and eliminating import duties on a large number of trade items.
Calling India one of the most attractive investment destinations globally, vice president of European Commission Jyrki Katainen also complimented the government for its resolve to roll out the GST.
During the talks, both sides failed to reach on a conclusion and has agreed to meet again in June.
Time is running out for a possible India-Europe bilateral trade investment agreement that would be beneficial for both parties.
Agreeing to resist protectionism in global trade, India and the European Union announced reaching the final stage of a trade and investment opening pact, billed as one of the largest bilateral agreements.
A trade agreement between the two nations would have to factor in US' concerns about IPRs and India's anxiety about market access.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will review the proposed bilateral trade and investment agreement between India and the EU at the meeting of the Trade and Economic Relations Committee (TERC) on May 29.
A high-level meeting between the two sides will be held in New Delhi from Monday on the comprehensive economic agreement which aims at eliminating trade barriers to enhance commerce between India and the EU.
In the absence of progress on services negotiations in the WTO, India is sending a team of officials to Europe to strike a deal in the services area with the EU under the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement.
After initiating talks with the European Union for a trade agreement, India has now started talks with non-EU countries such as Norway to boost trade and investment flows.
The agreement provides for extensive cooperation in the civil nuclear energy sector including in research and development for peaceful uses of nuclear energy, they said.
India has been spearheading the campaign at international fora for automatic exchange of information with a view to check tax evasion.
Recalibration is required as some items of interest to Britain may have to be removed
.jpg)
India-European Union Broad-based Trade and Investment agreement came up for discussion in a meeting between Sharma and visiting Netherlands Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen in New Delhi.
Negotiators from were expected to meet in New Delhi on August 28.
Modi also made a call for European Union unity and said India would play a positive role in enhancing that through Germany.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances