India’s Republic Day spotlight extends beyond parades to potential economic milestones. European heavyweights Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa land in New Delhi January 25, staying through the 28th as honored guests.
Their trip coincides with advanced India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions, possibly culminating at the January 27 summit. Von der Leyen, fresh from Davos, couldn’t contain her optimism. ‘India right after Davos—we’re on the cusp of history’s biggest trade accord, the mother of deals, spanning 2 billion people and a fourth of global GDP,’ she proclaimed.
In a world reordered by US tariffs, Europe eyes India for market diversity and primacy. ‘This deal lets us lead in partnering with explosive growth hubs and the century’s power player,’ she said.
Talks are set to conclude with a joint statement, leading to EU parliamentary approval. Security-defense and Indian professional mobility agreements complement the core FTA.
With $135 billion in FY2024 trade, the EU is India’s top partner. The deal promises zero-duty boosts for labor-heavy exports: textiles, leather, clothing, gems, jewelry, handicrafts.
Minister Piyush Goyal’s ‘mother of all agreements’ tag captures its scale. CBAM talks linger, but Goyal’s update confirms final-stretch progress.
This alliance could redefine trade flows, enhance competitiveness, and build mutual prosperity, positioning India and EU as pillars of a multipolar economy.