New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) India’s strategy of signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with developed economies is aimed at supporting the country’s long-term growth ambitions by expanding global engagement, attracting investments, promoting innovation, improving quality standards and creating employment opportunities, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.Addressing the closing session of the 5th Annual Meeting of India Global Innovation Connect here, Goyal said the…
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Oslo, May 18 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that both India and Norway believe in a rules-based order, dialogue and diplomacy while expressing support for every effort made for an early end to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. Addressing media with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store following their meeting in Oslo on Monday, PM Modi said, “India and Norway believe in rules-based order, dialogue, and diplomacy. We agree that military conflict cannot resolve a…
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that India is targeting exports worth $2 trillion over the next five years, while pegging the overall exports target for FY27 at $1 trillion.India’s total exports of goods and services increased to an all-time high of $863 billion in FY26 despite the uncertainties in global markets triggered by the US tariff turmoil and geopolitical tensions.The minister said India continues to remain a bright spot amid global geopolitical an…
New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) India is banking on the proposed export promotion mission and a new wave of free trade agreements (FTAs) to push the country’s exports towards the ambitious $1 trillion milestone in FY27, a top government official said on Friday.Speaking to NDTV Profit, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the government expects export growth in the current financial year to surpass last year’s pace, with efforts aimed at achieving expansion well beyond the 10-15 per cent range req…
New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal undertook an official visit to Switzerland from May 6-7 to advance the implementation of the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement and strengthen India–Switzerland trade and investment engagement, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Friday. The ministry stated that during the visit, the Commerce Secretary held a bilateral meeting with Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary, Swiss Stat…
New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday held a productive interaction with heads of various Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) here.“Discussed sector-specific priorities and heard their constructive feedback on enabling more Indian businesses to export and unlock opportunities in the global trade landscape,” said the minister on social media platform X.“Also, explored avenues for exporters to leverage the various FTAs India has concluded in the recent…
New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) India and New Zealand signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) here on Monday that removes tariffs on 100 per cent of India’s exports to New Zealand, and either sharply reduces or removes tariffs on 95 per cent of the country’s imports from New Zealand.The agreement was sealed in the presence of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay.The FTA, which concluded in a record nine months since its launch on March 16, 2025, marks a …
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) has completed two years since its signing, with the government on Tuesday highlighted that the pact is strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, services and technology.The agreement, which came into effect on October 1, 2025, is expected to deepen India’s economic ties with the EFTA member countries — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland …
New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a strong pitch for more foreign direct investment (FDI) in India at a roundtable meeting with prominent Norwegian CEOs and investors in Oslo on Wednesday.In her remarks at the event, the Finance Minister said: “My official visit to Norway has witnessed engaging and positive discussions on India as an investment destination and the fastest growing major economy of the world.”She also said that the Union Budget 2026-27 underpins the…
New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS) The India-EU free trade agreement (FTA), together with the government’s recent FTAs with the UK and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), effectively opens the entire European market for Indian exporters — marking a strategic breakthrough in India’s trade diplomacy, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said on Tuesday.The EU agreement comprehensively covers trade in goods and services, rules of origin, customs facilitation, trade remedies, and …