**Executive Summary**
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the India-European Union Business Forum in New Delhi on January 27, 2026. The address highlighted the deepening India-EU relations, marked by the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the shared goal of becoming a double engine of global growth. The PM emphasized the need for a "whole-of-society partnership" and called upon business leaders to leverage the opportunities arising from the FTA.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **India-EU Relations:**
* India-EU relations are entering a new era of alignment.
* The visit of the Presidents of the European Union Council and Commission to India marks the beginning of a new era.
* India and the European Union concluded the largest Free Trade Agreement in India's history.
* **India-EU FTA:**
* A historic India-EU FTA opens market access for labor-intensive products.
* The FTA will provide easy access for India's labor-intensive products to the European Union market.
* The FTA will directly benefit farmers, fishermen, and the services sector (IT, education, traditional medicine, and business services).
* Textiles, gems and jewellery, auto parts, engineering goods, fruits, vegetables, processed food, and marine products will create new opportunities.
* **Partnership and Priorities:**
* The Prime Minister calls for a whole-of-society partnership to scale India-EU relations.
* India and the EU share common values, joint priorities for global stability, and natural connections.
* Priorities include de-risking dependencies in trade, technology, and critical minerals; collaboration in defense, space, telecom, and AI; and joint efforts towards a clean and sustainable future, including investments in green hydrogen, solar energy, and smart grids.
* India-EU should become a double engine of global growth.
* **Economic Ties:**
* Trade has doubled to 180 billion euros in the last ten years.
* More than 6,000 European companies operate in India.
* Investments from the EU in India exceed 120 billion euros.
* 1,500 Indian companies are present in the EU.
* Indian investments there reaching nearly 40 billion euros.
**Impact Analysis**
**Business Leaders:**
* **Impact:** They are seen as the drivers and beneficiaries of the strengthened India-EU cooperation and have a special responsibility to take the partnership to the next level.
* **Action Required:** Fully utilize the opportunities arising from the FTA, build capable, reliable, and future-oriented partnerships, reduce external reliance in EVs, batteries, chips, and APIs, urge greater collaboration in defense, space, telecom, and AI, joint research and investment in green hydrogen, solar energy, and smart grids.
**Farmers, Fishermen, and the Services Sector:**
* **Impact:** They will directly benefit from the FTA, particularly in the areas of IT, education, traditional medicine, and business services.
* **Action Required:** Adapt to new market opportunities and requirements to leverage the FTA effectively.
**European and Indian Companies:**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunities for collaboration in R&D, manufacturing, and services, along with expanded market access.
* **Action Required:** Explore collaborative opportunities and investment prospects in sectors like defense, space, telecom, AI, green hydrogen, solar energy, and sustainable technologies.
Key Entities Referenced
India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Proposed agreement to facilitate trade, investment, and economic cooperation between India and the European Union, aimed at opening market access.
European Union (EU): A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe, engaged in trade and partnerships with India.
India-EU Business Forum: A platform for business leaders from India and the EU to discuss economic opportunities, partnerships, and strategic alignments.
Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India, addressing the India-EU Business Forum and emphasizing the importance of India-EU relations.
New Delhi: The location where the India-EU Business Forum was held, signifying the central role of the Indian government in the partnership.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses the
India-EU Business Forum in New Delhi
India-EU Relations Enter a New Era of Alignment: PM
Historic India-EU FTA Opens Market Access for Labour-
Intensive Products: PM
PM Calls for Whole-of-Society Partnership to Scale India-EU
Relations
India-EU should become Double Engine of Global Growth:
PM
प्रव तथ: 27 JAN 2026 9:21PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the India-European Union Business Forum at Bharat
Mandapam in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister expressed happiness at
participating in the India-European Union (EU) Business Forum. He remarked that the visit of the
Presidents of the European Union Council and Commission to India is not an ordinary diplomatic tour but
marks the beginning of a new era in India-EU relations. Shri Modi highlighted that for the first time, EU
leaders joined as Chief Guests at India’s Republic Day, India and the European Union concluded the
largest Free Trade Agreement in India’s history, and today, with the presence of numerous CEOs, the
India-EU Business Forum is being organized at such a large scale. He stated that these achievements
symbolize the unprecedented alignment between the world’s two largest democratic powers.
The Prime Minister emphasized that this alignment is not accidental; as market economies, India and the
EU share common values, joint priorities for global stability, and natural connections between their people
as open societies. He underlined that on this strong foundation, the partnership is reaching new heights
and is being established as one of the most influential partnerships in the world, with clear results visible.
Shri Modi noted that in the last ten years, trade has doubled to 180 billion euros, more than 6,000
European companies are operating in India, and investments from the EU in India exceed 120 billion
euros. He further remarked that 1,500 Indian companies are present in the EU, with Indian investments
there reaching nearly 40 billion euros. The Prime Minister highlighted that today, India and European
companies are deeply collaborating in R&D, manufacturing, and services, and business leaders are both
the drivers and beneficiaries of this cooperation.Prime Minister Modi stated that now is the time to make this partnership a ‘whole of the society
partnership.’ He remarked that with this vision, a comprehensive FTA has been completed today, which
will provide easy access for India’s labour-intensive products to the European Union market. Shri Modi
highlighted that textiles, gems and jewellery, auto parts, and engineering goods will benefit, while fruits,
vegetables, processed food, and marine products will create new opportunities. He underlined that this will
directly benefit farmers, fishermen, and also the services sector, particularly IT, education, traditional
medicine, and business services.
The Prime Minister observed that global business is undergoing major upheaval, with companies
rethinking their market strategies and partnerships. He emphasized that at such a time, this FTA sends a
clear and positive message to the business world, serving as an invitation to both sides’ business
communities to build capable, reliable, and future-oriented partnerships. Shri Modi expressed confidence
that business leaders will fully utilize the opportunities arising from this FTA.
Shri Modi further remarked that India and the European Union share several priorities that can benefit
business partnerships. He outlined three key priorities: first, in a world where trade, technology, and
critical minerals are being weaponized, there is a need to jointly de-risk dependencies. He asked whether
the business community can reduce external reliance in EVs, batteries, chips, and APIs, and build a shared
option for trusted supply chains. Second, he noted that both India and the EU focus on defense industries
and frontier technologies, urging greater collaboration in defense, space, telecom, and AI. Third, he
stressed that a clean and sustainable future is a priority for both sides, calling for joint research and
investment in green hydrogen, solar energy, and smart grids. Shri Modi added that industries should also
work together on small modular reactors and sustainable mobility, while developing solutions in water
management, circular economy, and sustainable agriculture.
The Prime Minister remarked that after today’s historic decisions, a special responsibility now rests with
the business community. He emphasized that the next step must be taken by the business community,
stating that “The Ball Is In Your Court.” Shri Modi highlighted that only through mutual cooperation will
the partnership gain trust, reach, and scale. He underlined that with collective efforts, shared prosperity
can be achieved. The Prime Minister concluded by urging everyone to combine their respective strengths
and become a double engine of growth for the entire world.
President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, Indian and European Business Leaders
were present at the event.
Sharing my remarks during the India-EU Business Forum. https://t.co/MXJIaE7eE
4
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2026LLIIVVEE:: PPMM MMooddii’’ss rreemmaarrkkss dduurriinngg IInnddiiaa--EEUU BBuussiinneessss FFoorruu……
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MJPS/SR
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