ADDRESS by H.E. Hervé DELPHIN, Ambassador of the European Union to India in Assam on 9 June 2026

ADDRESS by H.E. Hervé DELPHIN, Ambassador of the European Union to India in Assam on 9 June 2026

Address at "Blue Valleys: Building ecosystems and value chains between India and Europe" workshop

Namaskar and good morning,

Personally, I am pleased to be back in Assam. Because it is a beautiful State and it is where things happen.

In this introductory address, let me provide some background and context on why we are gathered here today and why this is such a significant event.

And let me use, for that purpose, the number 3.

3 years ago, almost to the day, the EU and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, jointly organised the EU-India Northeast Global Gateway Connectivity Conference in Shillong, Meghalaya - just next door. It was an indication of EU's recognition of the importance of the Northeast Region, and its intention to engage here in its development.

On a personal note, I have visited Assam 3 times. In February 2025, I had the honour to attend the Advantage Assam Infrastructure & Investors' Summit 2.0. I also had the honour to meet several times the Hon'ble Chief Minister and Chief Secretary, including hosting them last year at my residence in Delhi to discuss plans for cooperation between the EU and the State of Assam.

My repeated visits to Assam are testament to our commitment to the Northeast Region.

Why? For Three reasons.

First, the determination to deliver on the ambitious EU-India joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda towards 2030, agreed by our Leaders at the EU-India Summit on 27 January 2026. This joint agenda is transformative and consequential. Representing a quarter of the world's demography and GDP, the two largest democracies have embarked on developing cooperation in all major economic domains, building on their complementarities, the size of their markets, driven by strategic interests and strong leadership and trust.

The landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aptly coined as the 'mother of all deals', is the cornerstone of this vision. You will see a little video on this. This FTA will connect the world's largest single market with the fastest-growing large economy. The EU will eliminate or reduce duties on more than 99% of Indian goods exports, while India will grant access for almost 97% of EU exports.

• For Indian and European companies, this is a massive enabler, and a vote of confidence in the future. FTA will offer predictability, stability, mutual benefits and growth opportunities.

• It is a catalyst for closer integration of our economies and ecosystems. EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda towards 2030, has paved the way for deeper cooperation at all levels: upstream from research and innovation to scaling-up with start-ups hubs to cooperation in strategic sectors and value chains under the Trade and Technology Council (TTC). Mid- and downstream opportunities for joint investment and production with the Blue Valley initiative. In parallel, we are advancing on talent and skills' mobility.

This new framework creates unprecedented opportunities for states like Assam to attract European investment, technology, and market access. It is at the State level that our joint EU-India partnership will deliver and prove its worth!

Second reason, Assam.

We see immense potential in Assam and the North-East region - the Gateway to Goodness.

• Goodness of Nature: blessed with natural resources

• Goodness of People: Defined by incredible hospitality and exceptional human talent.

We recognise the strategic importance of the North-East region and Assam as a major economic hub and a connectivity gateway to South Asia and Southeast Asia, in line with Act East policy of the Government of India. This is fully aligned with our Global Gateway, which is the EU's global connectivity strategy.

We also see the Northeast as complementary to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which is emerging as a strategic connectivity architecture linking Europe, the Middle East and India through integrated transport, logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure networks.

This is the reason the EU focus is now on facilitating European private investments in India and in the North East in particular, through a dedicated Instrument /facility that we are putting in place. This initiative would help identify, prepare, structure, and promote bankable investment opportunities while connecting Assam with European investors, development finance institutions, and businesses.

But there is something much more that makes Assam compelling: it is its trailblazing spirit for entrepreneurship, industrial development and innovation, that makes it a destination of choice for companies.

• I commend India's effort in establishing a new vision for the North-East and the state of Assam, in particular, in making every effort to attract further international investments:

• I commend Assam for being one of the fastest growing states in India, under the able leadership of the Hon'ble Chief Minister. Assam is committing itself to green growth, to care for the environment and in particular to cherish the Northeast's rich biodiversity and environment. This fits well with the EU-India partnership's focus on prosperity (trade and investments) being interlinked with sustainability.

Yesterday, I visited the (under-construction) TATA semi-conductor high-tech electronics manufacturing and semiconductor production, assembly and testing facility in Jagiroad. It was very impressive. 48 million chips will be produced there everyday. More than that, serve as the magnet for an entire tech production ecosystem.

Today, EU firms remain underrepresented in Assam and in the Northeast! Currently 60% of EU businesses in India are concentrated in Maharashtra and Karnataka (I was in Bangalore on Friday!). But they increasingly will lack space, energy water. [KP(D1] All what you find here! That's why an event like this workshop is important, it will help develop EU business presence in Assam and the wider Northeast.

Ladies and gentlemen, last but not least, the third reason, Blue Valley approach :

The EU-India Joint Statement and the joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda adopted at the January 2916 Summit stated that both sides are « committed to work on scaling up bilateral investments and engage in discussion on Blue Valleys to accelerate private sector engagement in strengthening select value chains » and to « Engage in discussions on Blue Valleys for selected strategic value chains to accelerate private sector engagement » (point 1.2.2 of the Strategic Agenda).

Inspired by successful European regional innovation and sustainability ecosystems and clusters, the Blue Valley concept aims at creating sustainable value chains of common interest, attract investment, promote research collaboration, and generate employment in high-potential sectors.

The Blue Valleys initiative will therefore serve as a corridor, bringing together the European and Indian businesses. It can become a Flagship EU-Assam Partnership - a model linking the NE India and Assam with European innovation ecosystems.

The EU is open to work with the Government of Assam to help identify investment-ready projects and facilitate greater participation of European companies in the state's growth story.

Assam Can Emerge as a Global Hub for Flavours, Fragrances and AYUSH -

• The EU sees exceptional potential in the NE and Assam's biodiversity, medicinal plants, tea sector, essential oils, agarwood (oud), and traditional wellness systems.
• By combining the NE and Assam's natural strengths with European technology, standards, branding, and market access, the region can develop globally competitive value chains.

It can be an aggregator of bio-tech.

The sustainable management of natural resources is key for the North East - its waters and forests are precious. The EU strongly appreciates Assam's commitment to green growth and biodiversity conservation.

This is the reason why, our cooperation covers also water management climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, circular economy practices, natural resource management, and low-carbon industrial development, ensuring that economic expansion remains environmentally sustainable.

Today's workshop and this afternoon, the launch of the Blue Valley Cluster on Flavours and Fragrance and AYUSH, puts us and Assam at the vanguard of the EU-India Partnership. This marks the beginning of a new, bright chapter in EU-India relations, right here in Guwahati, Assam!

Thank you for your kind attention.

[KP(D1]Should I change it to :

However, as those regions face However, as these regions face growing constraints in space, energy, and water, Assam offers abundant resources and opportunities