NEW DELHI — Senior diplomatic officials from New Delhi and Brussels met on Tuesday to evaluate bilateral engagements designed to boost commerce and investment cooperation, official statements confirm. The high-level review centres on accelerating negotiations for the long-pending India-European Union free trade agreement ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming diplomatic visit to the Belgian capital.
Negotiators assessed the current blocks holding back the commercial pact. Both sides aim for timely signing and implementation.
Economic ministries in South Block have pushed for deeper market access across European nations. European counterparts stressed regulatory alignment during recent diplomatic exchanges, according to people familiar with the development.
Trade volumes between the South Asian powerhouse and the 27-nation bloc have expanded steadily over the past fiscal cycle. External affairs ministry officials maintain that an overarching trade agreement remains a top foreign policy priority. Brussels sees New Delhi as a vital economic partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Brussels next month for the annual India-EU summit. The diplomatic agenda includes formal bilateral talks with European Commission leadership.
