The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

    India-EFTA trade pact likely to be implemented from September: Piyush Goyal

    Synopsis

    India and EFTA's trade agreement may start in September. Piyush Goyal mentioned this after the agreement was signed on March 10, 2024. India will receive USD 100 billion investment in 15 years. Approvals are in progress. Goyal is in Switzerland to boost trade. Swiss firms are interested in pharma and cybersecurity sectors. There is excitement for India.

    Piyush Goyal in ItalyPTI
    Union Minister Piyush Goyal attends a dinner hosted by Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.
    The free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the four-nation European bloc EFTA is likely to come into force from September, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.

    The two sides signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on March 10, 2024. Under the pact, India has received an investment commitment of USD 100 billion in 15 years from the grouping while allowing several products such as Swiss watches, chocolates, and cut and polished diamonds at lower or zero duties.

    The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

    "It will enter into force by September," Goyal told reporters.

    He said the agreement has received approval from the Parliaments of all four countries. In Switzerland, there is an objection period open until July 10. July and August are holiday months here.

    He is here for an official visit to meet leaders and businesses to promote trade and investments between India and Switzerland.

    Goyal said he held bilateral meetings with over a dozen companies here and most of them are keen to invest in India.

    The Swiss firms have shown interest in sectors such as pharma, cybersecurity, and machinery manufacturing, he said.

    "Lot of excitement here for India," he said.


    (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

    (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)

    Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.

    ...more
    The Economic Times

    Stories you might be interested in