Brussels, Belgium | 15 July 2026
Aqeel Panaruna, Member of the CII Europe Council, represented Indian industry at one of the highest-level India–EU Business Roundtables held in Brussels, joining a top-tier Indian ministerial delegation for talks aimed at deepening the strategic partnership between the two economies.
The Indian delegation was led by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Jitin Prasada. Discussions centred on strengthening bilateral trade and investment, building resilient supply chains, and accelerating the conclusion of the long-awaited India–EU Free Trade Agreement.
Speaking on the sidelines of the roundtable, Panaruna said the dialogue reflected the momentum building around India’s expanding global economic footprint. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing and most trusted economies,” he said. “These high-level discussions reflect the Government’s unwavering commitment to expanding India’s global economic partnerships, strengthening manufacturing, and creating new opportunities for Indian industry.”
Panaruna expressed confidence that the FTA negotiations are heading toward a decisive milestone. “The India–EU FTA is moving towards a historic breakthrough,” he noted. “If concluded as expected by January 2027, the agreement is expected to deliver duty-free market access, significantly boosting exports, manufacturing, MSMEs, investments, technology collaboration, employment, and long-term economic growth for both India and the European Union.”
Calling it a privilege to represent Indian industry at the top-level dialogue, Panaruna added that the roundtable underscored the strong commitment of both India and the EU to forging a deeper, future-oriented economic partnership.
