Piyush Goyal Pursues Trade Ties in Brussels and Finland

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal conducted a series of high-level diplomatic engagements across Europe on July 16 to advance the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In Brussels, Goyal met with a business delegation comprising representatives from FICCI, CII, and ASSOCHAM to discuss how the FTA could benefit domestic industries and micro, small, and medium enterprises.

These discussions followed the third India-EU Business Roundtable, where Goyal, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Minister of State Jitin Prasada focused on expanding economic engagement in technology and innovation. Simultaneously, S. Jaishankar held meetings with EU Commissioners Ekaterina Zaharieva and Jozef Sikela regarding green energy, connectivity, and green shipping.

Continuing his itinerary in Finland, Goyal met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Riikka Purra and Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto. The Finnish talks centered on bilateral trade and investment within the FTA framework, specifically targeting emerging sectors such as AI, 6G, quantum technologies, semiconductors, space, and sustainability. To institutionalize this cooperation, the Confederation of Indian Industry and Business Finland scheduled the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. Goyal's visit also included the India-Finland Business Roundtable and site visits to Nokia Corporation and KONE Corporation.