Commerce Secretary Meets Senior EU Officials to Speed Up FTA
Ø India and EU Discuss Trade Facilitation,
Market Access and Deeper Cooperation in Sustainable Development and Green
Technologies
1.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal held
high-level meetings in Brussels with three senior European Commission
officials:
o
Ms. Ditte Juul Jørgensen – DG TRADE.
o
Mr. Koen Doens – DG
INTPA.
o
Mr. Gerassimos Thomas –
DG TAXUD.
2.
India–EU FTA – DG TRADE:
o
Discussed facilitating two-way trade, improving
market access and strengthening supply chain resilience.
o
Reaffirmed commitment to a fair, balanced and
mutually beneficial FTA.
o
Agreed to resolve remaining procedural and
implementation-related issues through continued engagement.
3.
Development Cooperation – DG INTPA:
o
Discussed strengthening India–EU development
cooperation.
o
Key areas included sustainable development, clean
energy and green technologies.
4.
Customs Cooperation – DG TAXUD:
o
Discussed customs cooperation, trade facilitation
and preparations for India–EU FTA implementation.
o
Emphasised efficient, transparent and digitally
enabled customs procedures.
o
Focus on reducing transaction costs and ensuring
smooth movement of legitimate trade.
5.
Diamond Industry Engagement:
o
Met representatives associated with the Antwerp
diamond ecosystem.
o
Discussed global diamond value chains,
certification, traceability and responsible sourcing.
o
Identified opportunities arising from India's
expanding diamond market and manufacturing ecosystem.
o
Antwerp, Mumbai and Surat
recognised as major diamond centres.
o
Gems and jewellery identified as an important area
for India–Belgium cooperation.
6.
BusinessEurope
Roundtable:
o
Interacted with European industry representatives
on strengthening trade and investment ties.
o
Discussed market access, supply chain resilience
and cooperation under the India–EU FTA.
o
Highlighted India's economic growth, ongoing
reforms and investment opportunities.
o
Invited European businesses to deepen investments
and participate in India's expanding value chains.
7.
Overall Significance:
o
Engagements covered trade, investment, development
cooperation, taxation and customs.
o
Reaffirmed India's and the EU's commitment to
strengthening their comprehensive economic and strategic partnership, with
particular emphasis on advancing the FTA and its implementation.
Commerce
Secretary, Rajesh Agrawal, held high-level meetings in Brussels with Ms. Ditte Juul
Jørgensen, Director-General, Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security
(DG TRADE); Mr. Koen Doens, Director-General, Directorate-General for International
Partnerships (DG INTPA); and Mr. Gerassimos Thomas, Director-General,
Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), European Commission.
The meetings focused on strengthening the comprehensive economic and strategic partnership
between India and the European Union.
During
the meeting with Ms. Ditte Juul Jørgensen, both sides discussed measures to facilitate
two-way trade, improve market access, strengthen supply chain resilience and create
new opportunities for businesses in India and the European Union. They reaffirmed
their commitment to a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial agreement and agreed
to maintain close engagement to address the remaining procedural and implementation-related
issues.
In
the meeting with Mr. Koen Doens, both sides exchanged views on strengthening India–EU
development cooperation and strategic partnerships, with discussions covering sustainable
development, clean energy, green technologies and related areas.
The
meeting with Mr. Gerassimos Thomas focused on customs
cooperation, trade facilitation and preparations for the implementation of the India–EU
FTA. Both sides recognised the importance of efficient, transparent and digitally
enabled customs procedures in supporting businesses, reducing transaction costs
and ensuring the smooth movement of legitimate trade.
Mr.
Agrawal also met stakeholders from the diamond industry, including representatives
associated with the Antwerp diamond ecosystem. The discussions covered the global
diamond value chain, certification and traceability requirements, responsible sourcing,
and opportunities arising from India's growing diamond market and manufacturing
ecosystem. India and Belgium have identified gems and jewellery as an important
area for deeper cooperation, with Antwerp, Mumbai and Surat recognised as major
diamond centres.
The
Commerce Secretary participated in a BusinessEurope roundtable
with European industry representatives to discuss opportunities for strengthening
trade and investment ties, improving market access, enhancing supply chain resilience
and advancing cooperation under the India–EU FTA. He highlighted India's strong
economic growth, reform momentum and investment opportunities across key sectors,
and invited European businesses to deepen their engagement with India and participate
in its expanding value chains.
The
engagements reflect the growing breadth of India–EU cooperation across trade, investment,
development partnership, taxation and customs, and reaffirm the shared commitment
of both sides to further strengthening their strategic partnership.