Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal reviewed the progress of India-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement negotiations in Moscow on 16 NOV 2023. The Commerce Secretary met with Mr. Andrey Slepnev, the Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission, and Mr. Mikhail Yurin, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. Discussions were built upon the outcomes of the India-Russia Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation, focusing on diversification, resilient supply chains, regulatory predictability, and balanced growth to reach USD 100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
The Terms of Reference signed on 20 August 2025 outline an 18-month work plan to diversify markets for Indian businesses, including MSMEs, farmers and fishermen and will examine the services and investment tracks. The Commerce Secretary explored ways to enhance trade diversification, supply-chain resilience, and cooperation in critical minerals with Deputy Minister Yurin. Both sides discussed a time-bound pathway across key sectors, including pharmaceuticals, telecom equipment, machinery, leather, automobiles, and chemicals. Quarterly regulator-to-regulator engagement was agreed upon to address certification requirements, listings of agricultural and marine businesses, prevention of monopolistic practices, and other non-tariff issues. Practical measures related to logistics, payments, and standards to improve predictability and ease of doing business for firms in both countries were also discussed.
At the industry plenary, the Commerce Secretary encouraged companies to align their projects with the 2030 bilateral trade target, highlighting India's logistics upgrades, digital public infrastructure, and opportunities for co-investment and co-production. The discussions emphasized the need to broaden the export basket, de-risk supply chains, and convert planned projects into actionable contracts, generating more jobs and long-term prosperity. India aims to deepen its trade and economic engagement with Russia to become a developed nation, Viksit Bharat, by 2047.
Contact:
Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma/Anushka Pandey
Release ID: 2190478, Visitor Counter: 937.
Key Entities Referenced
India-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement: An agreement under negotiation between India and the Eurasian Economic Union to promote trade and economic cooperation.
Moscow: Location of meetings where India-EAEU Free Trade Agreement negotiations were reviewed.
Commerce Secretary: The Commerce Secretary reviewed the progress of India-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
India-Russia Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation: The forum for discussing diversification, strengthening resilient supply chains, ensuring regulatory predictability and promoting balanced growth in the partnership.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Commerce Secretary reviews the India–
Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade
Agreement negotiations in Moscow
Posted On: 16 NOV 2025 11:52AM by PIB Delhi
Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal has reviewed the progress of India–Eurasian Economic
Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement negotiations in a series of meetings Moscow. Commerce
Secretary met the Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Mr. Andrey
Slepnev, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Mr. Mikhail Yurin, and
also addressed a business networking plenary with members of Indian and Russian industry.
The discussions built upon the outcomes of the India–Russia Working Group on Trade and Economic
Cooperation, with a continued focus on diversification, strengthening resilient supply chains, ensuring
regulatory predictability and promoting balanced growth in the partnership. These efforts reflect the
Leaders’ direction to reach USD 100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and to expand Indian exports
through industrial and technological collaboration.
In the meeting with Minister Slepnev, the Commerce Secretary reviewed the next steps for the India–
EAEU FTA in goods. The Terms of Reference signed on 20 August 2025 outline an 18-month work
plan aimed at diversifying markets for Indian businesses, including MSMEs, farmers and fishermen.
In line with the Leaders’ guidance, the services and investment tracks will also be examined as the
process advances.
In his discussions with Deputy Minister Yurin, the Commerce Secretary explored ways to enhance
trade diversification, supply-chain resilience and cooperation in critical minerals. Both sides
discussed a time-bound pathway across key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, telecom equipment,
machinery, leather, automobiles and chemicals. Quarterly regulator-to-regulator engagement was
agreed upon to address certification requirements, listings of agricultural and marine businesses,
prevention of monopolistic practices and other non-tariff issues. The dialogue also covered practical
measures related to logistics, payments and standards to improve predictability and ease of doing
business for firms in both countries.
At the industry plenary attended by senior business leaders from India and Russia, the Commerce
Secretary encouraged companies to align their projects with the 2030 bilateral trade target. He
highlighted India’s logistics upgrades, digital public infrastructure and opportunities for co-
investment and co-production across goods and services. The discussions emphasized the need to
broaden the export basket, de-risk supply chains and convert planned projects into actionable
contracts that enhance value and volume, generating more jobs and long-term prosperity for people inboth countries. India, as a trusted partner for developing and developed nations alike, aims to deepen
its trade and economic engagement with Russia as it works toward becoming a developed nation,
Viksit Bharat, by 2047.
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Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma/Anushka Pandey
(Release ID: 2190478) Visitor Counter : 937
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