Piyush Goyal, German Minister discuss commitment to finalising India-EU FTA

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche in Berlin on Thursday to discuss ways to strengthen trade and investment ties between India and Germany, with both sides reiterating their commitment to finalising the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Goyal, who is on an official visit to Germany, held wide-ranging discussions focused on deepening Indo-German cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, green energy, advanced technology, and defence.

“It was a pleasure to meet Katherina Reiche, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, in Berlin. Our discussions focused on deepening Indo-German ties in trade and investment, joint industrial and technological partnerships in green energy, new and emerging technologies, as well as defence. Talks also covered Germany’s commitment to finalising the India-EU FTA,” Goyal wrote in a post on X.

Highlighting India’s economic potential, Goyal said that India’s large talent pool and ongoing reforms to improve the ease of doing business present significant opportunities for German companies to diversify investments and strengthen global supply chains.

The Minister also participated in a roundtable meeting with CEOs of German Mittelstand (small and medium-sized enterprises) and Indian companies. Discussions centred on promoting innovation, sustainable manufacturing, and expanding collaboration between industries in both countries.

Goyal’s visit marks an important step in advancing India’s economic partnership with Germany. The year 2025 will mark the 25th anniversary of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, underscoring the depth and resilience of bilateral relations.

As part of his engagements in Berlin, Goyal will also address the third edition of the Berlin Global Dialogue (BGD), an annual summit that convenes leaders from government, business, and academia to discuss global economic trends and policy frameworks.

–IANS

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