India‑EU FTA Sealed After 17 Years: Technology Transfer to Drive Growth, Says Jitin  Prasada

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin  Prasada announced that India has successfully concluded its long‑pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European  Union on equal terms after nearly 17 years of negotiations.

Speaking at the Uttar  Pradesh  International  Trade  Show (UPITS), Prasada described the deal as a landmark achievement, noting that earlier talks had stalled for years. “The EU FTA was in discussions for  17 years. They were not ready to have a conversation with us. Our government was able to strike a deal on equal terms,” he said.

Negotiations, which began in  2007 and were revived in  2022, concluded on January  27, 2026. Earlier this month, the European  Commission submitted the agreement to the EU  Council for authorisation for signature and conclusion.

Prasada emphasised that India’s new trade approach focuses on technology transfer, local manufacturing, and artificial intelligence (AI) as key drivers of industrial growth. He said foreign companies investing in India would be encouraged to form joint ventures and share technology to strengthen domestic manufacturing ecosystems.

He also urged Indian manufacturers to prioritise quality enhancement to meet global standards, adding, “We need to ensure quality, and the global market is waiting for us.”

Highlighting the role of AI, Prasada said it could revolutionise India’s manufacturing sector, particularly benefiting MSMEs through improved productivity and reduced costs. He pointed out that Uttar  Pradesh is emerging as a hub for data centres and AI‑driven technologies, citing investments by Samsung and Yotta.