Piyush Goyal to visit U.K. for Free Trade Agreement negotiations

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to visit the U.K. on July 10-11 to take stock of the negotiations for a free trade agreement

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to visit the U.K. on July 10-11 to take stock of the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) to promote economic ties between the two countries, an official statement said on July 9.

The Minister's visit will be focused on the ongoing FTA negotiations between India and the U.K. besides discussing progress on a trade pact with Ministers from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member countries, the Commerce Ministry said.

The visit comes at a crucial juncture, as both India and the U.K. are committed to expanding their economic ties and exploring avenues for enhanced bilateral trade.

"With the FTA negotiations gaining momentum, the visit aims to further propel the discussions and pave the way for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement that would drive economic growth and strengthen ties between the two nations," it said.

During the visit, the Minister will engage in high-level meetings with his U.K. counterparts, including the Secretary of State for International Trade, as well as representatives from various sectors and industries.

"These meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss the key priorities and objectives of the FTA negotiations, with a focus on addressing trade barriers, promoting investments, and fostering greater cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, and intellectual property rights," it said.

He will also meet with Ministers and officials from the EFTA member countries, (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), to assess the progress made in the ongoing negotiations of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).