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The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is now undergoing "legal scrubbing" and both sides are committed to concluding the process swiftly for its signing and coming into force, possibly this year, EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin has said. Speaking to PTI, he described the FTA as a "very substantial" deal rather than an "empty shell." "We are in the process of what we call technically, of the legal scrubbing, and to close the process of before the official signing and the entry into force. I think what I've noticed with during the summit is that both sides are really committed to have this process concluded as soon as possible, so that the FTA enters into force, possibly this year, which will be another achievement," the ambassador emphasized. He listed overlapping economic interests, complementarity, scale, diversification, and de-risking as key drivers. "From the European side, the EU member states, the Commission, and leadership, and on the Indian side, we saw the same ...
Lower tariffs under the India-EU free trade agreement will significantly strengthen the position of Indian formulations, APIs, and value-added medicines in the European Union, Pharmexcil Chairman Namit Joshi said on Tuesday. For the domestic pharmaceutical sector, the agreement delivers structural competitiveness, he stated. "Near-zero tariff access significantly strengthens the position of Indian formulations, APIs, and value-added medicines in the EU, a development that is particularly consequential for India's pharma MSMEs, many of whom possess strong quality capabilities, but face cost and access barriers in highly regulated markets," Joshi said in a statement. Reduced tariffs and smoother market entry will directly enhance their ability to scale exports, invest in compliance, and integrate into European supply chains, he added. "Crucially, this agreement enables stable, long-term, and predictable pharmaceutical trade, benefiting European healthcare systems and consumers throug
The "game-changer" free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU) is set to unlock significant trade and investment opportunities for the country in the high-potential market of the 27-nation bloc, which remained untapped and boost India's export competitiveness, industry bodies said on Tuesday. The European Union and India on Tuesday announced the conclusion of negotiations for the free trade agreement (FTA) here. CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said the landmark agreement represents a strategic breakthrough in India's global trade engagement and significantly deepens the partnership between two major democracies and economies that together account for nearly 25 per cent of global GDP. "The unprecedented preferential access secured for over 99 per cent of Indian exports is a game-changer for Indian industry. It decisively improves competitiveness in the EU's high-value market, anchors Indian manufacturers and service providers deeper into global value
Zero-duty access under the India-EU Free Trade Agreement could help double the bilateral gems and jewellery trade to USD 10 billion (around Rs 91,000 crore)over the next three years, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said on Tuesday. This removes 2-4 per cent duties on precious jewellery, unleashing huge export potential with the 27-member EU countries, home to the world's elite buyers. "The India-EU FTA will supercharge market diversification for the gem and jewellery industry. This transformative pact aims to double bilateral trade to Rs 91,000 crore within three years. "Zero-duty access to the world's largest consumer market empowers export hubs in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and West Bengal to ramp up shipments of precious jewellery (plain and studded), silver, and imitation jewellery, capitalising on India's renowned design prowess," GJEPC chairman Kirit Bhansali said. The European Union and India on Tuesday announced the conclusion of negotiations fo
Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Mittal on Tuesday exuded confidence that the India-EU FTA will open new avenues for collaboration, especially in digital infrastructure and space connectivity, and offer European investors a compelling opportunity to innovate and scale with India for global markets. The agreement also opens opportunities for Indian companies like Airtel to invest in the digital infrastructure in Europe, the telecom sector stalwart said in a statement. The comment comes in the backdrop of India and the European Union (EU) concluding the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Tuesday, marking an important milestone in one of New Delhi's most strategic economic partnerships. With a combined market estimated at over Rs 2,091.6 lakh crore (USD 24 trillion), bringing opportunities for the 2 billion people of India and the EU, the FTA promises to unlock significant potential for trade and innovation. The landmark free trade agreement -- which is being billed as
India and European Union on Tuesday explored ways to integrate their defence supply chains under a broader goal of deepening bilateral strategic ties. The issue figured prominently at a meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held with European Union's chief of foreign and security affairs Kaja Kallas. "Discussed a range of bilateral security and defence issues including opportunities for integrating supply chains for building trusted defence ecosystems and future-ready capabilities," Singh said on X. "Looking forward to greater cooperation between India and the EU countries," he said. The meeting took place ahead of the India-EU summit talks.