India and Austria Push for Expedited EU Free Trade Agreement

India and Austria discussed the importance of expediting the long-pending EU Free Trade Agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Austria emphasized stronger EU-India ties and their positive global impact. Both nations reaffirmed support for ongoing trade and investment negotiations and the EU-India Connectivity Partnership.

India and Austria stressed the urgency of the EU Free Trade Agreement on Wednesday, recognizing the vast potential within the world's largest free-market space shared by the EU and India.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the mutual and global benefits of deeper EU-India ties during Modi's two-day visit to Austria, the first in 41 years. They endorsed ongoing trade and investment negotiations and emphasized the swift implementation of the EU-India Connectivity Partnership.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra noted the extensive delay in finalizing the EU Free Trade Agreement, now in its 23rd year of negotiations. Modi and Nehammer agreed to accelerate the discussions. The EU stands as India's third-largest trading partner, with total trade in goods reaching 88 billion Euros in 2021.