New Delhi

On the day India and the European Union finalized a landmark trade agreement hailed as “the mother of all deals,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the significant outcomes of the European delegation’s visit.

Speaking at a briefing in New Delhi alongside Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, Misri said the India-EU strategic partnership has grown steadily over the past decade, both in scale and importance. He added that, as the world witnesses shifts in global trade, technology, and strategic dynamics, closer India-EU cooperation is crucial not only bilaterally but also for addressing global challenges such as supply chain concentration, multilateral inefficiencies, emerging multipolarity, and rising protectionism.

During the 16th India-EU summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen co-chaired discussions and oversaw the signing of several key agreements. These included the historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement, a security and defence partnership pact, and an MoU on mobility cooperation. The leaders also addressed the India-EU Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam, attended by over 100 CEOs from both sides.

Misri noted the historic nature of the visit, marking the first time EU leaders served as joint guests of honour at India’s Republic Day celebrations.

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The FTA, designed as a modern, rules-based trade framework, integrates the economies of India and the EU—together representing a market of over USD 24 trillion—while providing market access for more than 99% of India’s exports. The agreement also preserves policy space for sensitive sectors and supports India’s developmental priorities, offering new opportunities for trade, investment, and innovation for over two billion people across the two regions.