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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that India will soon finalize the second tranche of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia and expects to conclude an FTA with Oman in the coming weeks.
Speaking at FICCI LEADS 2025, he added that India remains in active dialogue with the US, New Zealand, Chile, and Peru, among other countries and regions, for FTAs. Active negotiations are also underway at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi for the India-EU FTA ahead of EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič’s visit tomorrow.
He stated that he expects to finalize the terms of reference for the India-Qatar FTA in the first week of October and likened trade partnerships to the saying that a clap is possible only with two hands.
Projecting an investment of another $200–300 billion into Indian markets from abroad over the next 15 years, he described the current global situation as one of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
Highlighting AI, ML, and quantum computing as growth multipliers, he called for leveraging technology to strengthen Aatmanirbhar Bharat in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and education, thereby boosting productivity.
At the convocation of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), he
noted the presence of 2,500 large global companies in manufacturing, services, and GCCs participating in India’s growth story.
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal emphasized the need to update and revise IIFT’s curriculum to prepare for future FTA negotiations, including emerging issues like sustainability and services.
Goyal also called for expanding IIFT’s geographical reach through overseas campuses to maintain world-class standards. He described India as a major future economy, asserting that domestic experiences are as
valuable as foreign ones, and advocated teaching high-quality Indian case studies to students.
Stating that AICTE approval for IIFT’s Kakinada and GIFT City campuses would turn their balance sheets green, Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Mohan Joshi said that the institute’s Dubai campus has already received approvals from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Education, and UAE authorities.
The institute plans to include more Indian case studies in its curriculum and has revived
plans to establish a new campus at Maidan Garhi in New Delhi.
Speaking at FICCI LEADS 2025, he added that India remains in active dialogue with the US, New Zealand, Chile, and Peru, among other countries and regions, for FTAs. Active negotiations are also underway at Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi for the India-EU FTA ahead of EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič’s visit tomorrow.
He stated that he expects to finalize the terms of reference for the India-Qatar FTA in the first week of October and likened trade partnerships to the saying that a clap is possible only with two hands.
Projecting an investment of another $200–300 billion into Indian markets from abroad over the next 15 years, he described the current global situation as one of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
Highlighting AI, ML, and quantum computing as growth multipliers, he called for leveraging technology to strengthen Aatmanirbhar Bharat in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and education, thereby boosting productivity.
At the convocation of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), he
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal emphasized the need to update and revise IIFT’s curriculum to prepare for future FTA negotiations, including emerging issues like sustainability and services.
Goyal also called for expanding IIFT’s geographical reach through overseas campuses to maintain world-class standards. He described India as a major future economy, asserting that domestic experiences are as
Stating that AICTE approval for IIFT’s Kakinada and GIFT City campuses would turn their balance sheets green, Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Mohan Joshi said that the institute’s Dubai campus has already received approvals from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Education, and UAE authorities.
The institute plans to include more Indian case studies in its curriculum and has revived
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