A BusinessEurope delegation, led by President Fredrik Persson, was in New Delhi to take part in the EU-India Business Summit on 27 January.

During the visit, President Persson joined a discussion with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as an exchange with India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič. He also participated in the Business Roundtable on "Opportunities Arising from the FTA".

The Summit took place on the same day that the EU and India announced the conclusion of an historic trade agreement, opening new trade and investment opportunities in a market of two billion people, representing around one quarter of global GDP.

"For the business community, cooperation between Europe and India is no longer optional, it is essential", Persson said. "In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical competition, economic fragmentation, and uncertainty, the trade agreement creates a platform for trust, predictability, and long-term engagement between our economies".

He emphasised that companies are looking for market diversification to mitigate risk together with predictability and transparency to support long-term investment and supply-chain decisions. The Indian market has long been protected by high tariffs that in certain cases are equal to or higher than 100%. The agreement foresees a gradual reduction of tariffs, allowing European products to reach Indian consumers at more competitive prices and unlocking new business opportunities for companies on both sides. Implementation will be key to ensure access to market is made simpler, faster and more predictable.