India, EU committed to respecting Paris Agreement

Emphasising on the need for clean energy and climate change, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said India and the European Union (EU) are united in their commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Addressing a gathering of diplomats, policy makers and academics in Athens on the subject "India and Europe in a Changing World", President Kovind said India was scaling up the share of non-fossil fuels in its energy mix, which will go up from the current 31 percent to 53 percent by 2027.

"We are targeting 175 gigawatts of renewable energy, of which 100 gigawatts will be solar energy," he said.

President Kovind also used the occasion to invite Greece to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA). He also expressed happiness at the European Investment Bank's willingness to mobilise finance for affordable solar energy projects in ISA member countries.

President Kovind further said that EU was a critical source of investment and technology, especially for sustainability programmes.

"The EU is among India's largest trading partners. Indian companies are significant investors in the EU, in industries as far apart as pharmaceuticals and automobile components," President Kovind added.

He underlined that India remained committed to an India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), which was to be achieved in a generous spirit of mutual accommodation and of pragmatism.

The event was organised by the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) - a leading foreign policy think tank in Greece and in Europe.

Earlier, the President addressed the India-Greek Business Forum meeting in Athens.

He urged Greek shipping, agriculture, food processing, tourism, infrastructure, technology, defence and start-up companies to look at investment and technology tie-up openings in India.

President Kovind is currently on a three-nation visit to Greece, Suriname and Cuba. He will leave for Suriname later in the day.