Piyush Goyal begins five-day Europe tour as India-EU FTA enters final stage; trade, technology and investment top agenda
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With India and the European Union entering the final phase of concluding their long-pending free trade agreement (FTA), Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will begin a five-day visit to Spain, Belgium and Finland from July 13 to 17 to deepen trade, investment and technology partnerships with the three European nations.
Leading a high-level business delegation comprising companies from advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technologies, healthcare, food processing, and gems and jewellery, Goyal's visit is aimed at strengthening India's economic engagement with Europe and expanding collaboration in emerging sectors.
According to the Commerce and Industry Ministry, the visit assumes significance as India and the 27-member European Union have announced the conclusion of the FTA negotiations and are now in the final phase of legal scrubbing of the agreement before its formal signing.
Focus on manufacturing, AI and renewables in Spain
The first leg of the minister's visit will take him to Spain on July 13, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with senior ministers overseeing the economy, industry and foreign affairs. Goyal will also chair the India-Spain Business Roundtable, bringing together industry leaders from both countries to explore opportunities across automotive, renewable energy, railways, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, food processing and tourism.
The visit coincides with the Spain-India Dual Year 2026, commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Spanish companies, including Iberdrola, Acciona, CAF, Talgo, Gestamp and Indra, already have significant operations in India, while Indian firms such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and Larsen & Toubro are expanding their presence in Spain.
India-EU Trade and Technology Council takes centre stage
In Belgium on July 14 and 15, Goyal will participate in the India-EU Business Roundtable and co-chair the third India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Ministerial Meeting in Brussels alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada.
The ministry described the India-EU TTC as the highest institutional mechanism for cooperation on trade, trusted technology and economic security.
"The India-EU Business Roundtable and TTC plenary will further focus on foreign direct investment opportunities, trade facilitation, sustainable technologies, and resilient supply chains," the ministry said.
Goyal is also expected to hold CEO-level meetings with Alain Queverin of Thales Group and Jean-Christophe Bogaert of Silox Group. While Thales is a global leader in aerospace, defence, cybersecurity and digital identity with a strong India presence, Silox operates major speciality chemicals and recycling facilities in Gujarat and collaborates on battery recycling and sustainable manufacturing.
The minister will also visit the Port of Antwerp and the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, underscoring India's focus on strengthening cooperation in logistics, supply chains and the global diamond trade. Meetings with senior European Union leaders, including the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, as well as Belgium's Prime Minister, are also on the agenda.
Finland to deepen innovation and technology partnership
The final leg of the visit will take Goyal to Finland on July 16 and 17, where discussions will centre on digitalisation, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and the circular economy. Besides participating in the India-Finland Business Roundtable and meeting Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs, Goyal will oversee the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Business Finland to strengthen institutional collaboration.
He is also scheduled to visit Nokia, VTT Research Centre, KONE Corporation and Kemppi Group to explore partnerships in telecom infrastructure, 6G, smart mobility, EV infrastructure and industrial innovation.