Let me start by once again welcoming our Indian colleagues to Brussels. It is our great honour to host you for the first edition of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council.
The EU and India are global pillars of democracy and rules-based economic opportunity. We share many values and strategic ambitions.
In particular, we both see untapped potential in our trade and economic relations. We can do much more, and much better.
So it is in this spirit that we have created the EU-India TTC. We want it to play a key role in unlocking this potential.
We are already going full steam ahead with negotiations for bilateral agreements on trade, investment protection and geographical indications.
But these agreements will not cover every aspect of our trade and investment relations. And that is where the TTC comes in. It has the potential to complement and strengthen these agreements.
So, in particular, we agreed to focus on four areas in the coming years:
First, on resilient value chains.
Second, on addressing market access issues, which is important for growing our trade relationship.
Third, our exchanges on Foreign Direct Investment screening to better understand each other's systems
And also, on global trade issues, including in the context of the upcoming 13th WTO ministerial conference.
To conclude, I am delighted we have taken this important step towards a stronger EU-India partnership.
Now, we must show ambition and political will to deliver positive results, without delay. Thank you.
