Piyush Goyal to Visit Brussels for High-Level Trade Talks from Jan 18-20

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th Jan. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, will visit Brussels, Belgium, from January 18 to 20, 2025, for a High-Level Dialogue with Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner of the European Commission for Trade and Economic Security.

The visit underscores India’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties with the European Union (EU), which is one of India’s largest trading partners with bilateral trade exceeding $180 billion in 2023-24. The EU is also a major source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India, totaling $117.34 billion.

During the visit, discussions will focus on advancing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, reviewing the Trade and Technology Council framework, and addressing bilateral trade issues. The leaders aim to expedite the FTA talks, exploring a commercially viable and mutually beneficial agreement that is balanced and ambitious.

Minister Goyal is also expected to meet Dr. Ngozi Okonzo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation, as well as Bernard Quintin, Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Foreign Trade. Additionally, he will engage with representatives of Belgian industry and the Indian community in Brussels.

This visit comes amid a global economic landscape marked by trade disruptions, reflecting India’s strategic efforts to enhance international economic partnerships.