India Strengthens European Trade Ties :
India is actively engaging with European partners to enhance strategic economic cooperation, address trade hurdles, and pave the way for smoother market access. This was evident during the recent visit of India’s Commerce Secretary to the Netherlands and Croatia from April 24th to 26th.
In the Netherlands, discussions centered on advancing bilateral trade and economic ties. A key outcome was laying the groundwork for establishing a Green and Digital Corridor connecting the Port of Rotterdam, a major European gateway, with Indian ports such as the Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla. This ambitious initiative aims to facilitate the export of Green Hydrogen and its carriers like Ammonia and Methanol from India into Europe.
Meetings with senior officials from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs focused on strengthening bilateral trade and economic relationships, including potentially setting up a Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC). The dialogue covered a wide range of issues, from fostering policy alignment to identifying and addressing trade barriers that impact businesses in both countries. The visit also involved in-depth discussions on enhancing cooperation between Indian ports and Rotterdam, exploring opportunities for knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and sustainable port management practices, aligning with India’s Maritime Vision 2030 goals for port modernization and logistics efficiency. Both sides expressed strong interest in joint projects related to port digitalization, green shipping, and optimizing logistics to boost trade flows.
Following the Netherlands visit, the Commerce Secretary traveled to Croatia, engaging in talks aimed at boosting India-Croatia trade and investment relations and promoting collaboration across various sectors. These discussions are part of India’s broader strategy to deepen its engagement with the Central European region.
A significant aspect of the talks with Croatian officials was advancing the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This is particularly relevant as the 11th round of negotiations for the proposed India-EU FTA commenced on May 12th in New Delhi. Discussions also covered enhancing direct bilateral trade cooperation between India and Croatia. Potential areas for collaboration identified included Railways, Global Capability Centers, Electric Vehicles, IT, Defence, solar cells, food processing technology, and automobiles.
These high-level engagements in the Netherlands and Croatia come ahead of an expected visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Europe in May, which is anticipated to include stops in these two nations and Norway.
The visits underscore India’s proactive approach to building stronger economic partnerships in Europe, focusing on key areas like green energy, digital connectivity, port infrastructure, and comprehensive trade agreements to facilitate growth for Indian businesses on the global stage.
Source – Fieo
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