Free Trade Agreement

December 24, 2025 10:47 AM

Legally binding commitments in FTAs key to expanding global footprint of Indian professionals: Commerce Secretary

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on Tuesday stressed the need for legally binding commitments on professional services under India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to help Indian professionals access global markets, as the government looks to leverage the country’s demographic dividend and growing services strength. Speaking at a Chintan Shivir on Professional Services organised by the Department of Commerce, Agrawal said closer stakeholder coordination, reforms in the domestic ecosystem, an...

December 23, 2025 3:43 PM

PM Modi shares Piyush Goyal’s article highlighting India-New Zealand FTA as women-led, growth-focused pact

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday shared an article by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, highlighting how India’s free trade agreements (FTAs) have evolved beyond tariff reductions to become part of a broader mission to strengthen the economy and improve livelihoods. Responding to Goyal’s post on X, the Prime Minister said the article explains that India’s FTAs are now instruments of economic transformation and social inclusion. He also noted that the India-New ...

December 23, 2025 2:45 PM

India, New Zealand conclude financial services annex under Free Trade Agreement

India and New Zealand on Monday concluded negotiations on the Financial Services Annex of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral economic and strategic cooperation. The negotiations were formally concluded on December 22, following the final round of talks held on December 10. Negotiations on the financial services annex began in May 2025 and evolved into a comprehensive framework comprising 18 articles, drawing on India’s e...

December 22, 2025 3:29 PM

‘Forward-looking agreement, will allow students multi-year work visas’: Piyush Goyal on India-New Zealand FTA

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand is comprehensive and forward-looking, and will elevate bilateral relations to a higher strategic level. “This free trade agreement with New Zealand reflects the vision of our leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, to take the relationship to a much more comprehensive and strategic level. It goes beyond trade to include education, research a...

December 22, 2025 5:02 PM

India-New Zealand FTA puts partnership on accelerated growth trajectory: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday described the newly concluded India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a landmark development that will significantly boost trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. In a post on X, Jaishankar said the agreement marks a new phase in bilateral ties. “A landmark in India-New Zealand relations. The India-NZ FTA, concluded in record time under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Chr...

December 22, 2025 1:18 PM

India, New Zealand seal Free Trade Agreement; FTA to serve as catalyst for trade, investment

India and New Zealand on Monday announced the conclusion of a comprehensive and forward-looking Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a major economic and strategic milestone in India’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. The agreement is among India’s fastest-concluded FTAs with a developed country and is aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The negotiations were formally launched on March 16, 2025, during a meeting between Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush ...

December 22, 2025 1:19 PM

PM Modi, Christopher Luxon announce conclusion of India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a telephone conversation with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, during which the two leaders jointly announced the conclusion of a landmark India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the agreement has been finalised in a record nine months since negotiations were initiated during PM Luxon’s visit to India in March 2025. The leaders said the swift conclusion of the FTA reflects the shared...

December 11, 2025 9:48 PM

India-Italy sign Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation

India and Italy on Thursday signed the protocol of the India–Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC), laying out a roadmap to strengthen their economic partnership. The protocol was signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani. In a post on X, Goyal said the two sides also witnessed the signing of several industry agreements across sectors. He said he unde...

December 11, 2025 10:20 PM

Piyush Goyal says India left “no stone unturned” for a fair India-EU FTA talks

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday addressed the India-Italy Business Forum plenary session in Mumbai alongside Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Goyal said India is “leaving no stone unturned for a fair, equitable, and balanced India-EU FTA,” adding that Italy’s partnership will play an important role in shaping the negotiations. India’s push for a fair and balanced India–EU Free Trade ...

November 16, 2025 2:55 PM

Commerce Secretary reviews India-EAEU FTA negotiations in Moscow

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on Saturday reviewed the ongoing negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) during a series of high-level meetings in Moscow. Agrawal met Andrey Slepnev, Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission; Mikhail Yurin, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; and also addressed an industry plenary attended by Indian and Russian business leaders. The discussi...