Von der Leyen arrives in India to seal “the mother of all deals”
The President of the European Commission, ursula von der Leyen, arrived in India this Saturday to seal what she herself has defined as “the mother of all deals”, a free trade agreement that both blocs hope to finally conclude next Tuesday.
“The mother of all trade deals.We are getting closer to the Free Trade agreement,” Von der Leyen wrote on her official X social media profile shortly after landing in New Delhi.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Indian ministry of foreign Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, welcomed the European leader on the same platform, highlighting that her state visit will serve to map out the next phase of the strategic partnership.
The spokesperson, who confirmed that Von der Leyen was received on the tarmac by the Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, stressed that “as the two largest democracies in the world, India and the EU share a partnership rooted in mutual trust”.
hours before the President of the Commission landed, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, also arrived in the Indian capital, a high-level delegation to which the president of the European Council, António Costa, will join.
The Community leadership will attend this Monday as “guest of honor” at the 77th Republic Day parade alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra modi, before holding the sixteenth bilateral summit on Tuesday, where the pact is expected to be definitively closed.
The EU and India aspire to create one of the largest free trade zones in the world, as together they bring together almost 2 billion people and represent approximately a quarter of global GDP.
In 2024, India was the EU’s ninth largest trading partner, to which it destined only 2.4% of its total trade in goods; far behind the 17.3% of the united States or the 14.6% of China, a giant against which the Community bloc seeks to reduce its dependence on the supply of raw materials.
In addition to the free trade agreement, the EU and India want to boost investment in sectors such as the digital sector.
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New Delhi – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in India today to finalize a landmark trade and investment agreement. sources indicate the deal, dubbed “the mother of all agreements” by some, will considerably deepen economic ties between the european Union and the world’s most populous nation.
Negotiations have spanned several years, facing hurdles related to agricultural subsidies, data privacy, and intellectual property rights.Officials from both sides now express confidence those issues are resolved. The agreement is expected to reduce tariffs on a wide range of goods, boosting trade volumes and fostering investment in sectors like renewable energy, technology, and pharmaceuticals.
von der Leyen’s visit includes meetings with prime Minister Narendra Modi and othre key government figures. A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for Friday. Details of the agreement, including specific tariff reductions and investment commitments, will be released following the ceremony.
Analysts predict the EU-India deal will create new opportunities for businesses on both sides. It also positions the EU as a key partner in India’s economic growth story, while providing European companies with access to a rapidly expanding market. The agreement could also serve as a counterbalance to China’s growing economic influence in the region.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more data becomes available.
