Blanar: Slovakia Welcomes EU-India Free Trade Agreement

Bratislava, 27 January (TASR) - Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) on Tuesday described the concluded negotiations on an EU-India free trade agreement as an unprecedented success that will open a whole new chapter in trade and investment relations, TASR has learnt from the Foreign Ministry's communications department. In the current period of geopolitical shifts and tariff wars, this confirms that dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation yield results, said the communications department. "The free trade agreement between the EU and India represents the biggest turn in the history of EU's trade policy, and thus also for Slovakia. Our companies are truly interested in the dynamically developing Indian economy, as evidenced by the upcoming third business mission to India, which we'll undertake in early March," said Blanar, emphasising that the Indo-Pacific region and the countries of the Global South are clear priorities for Slovakia's economic diplomacy. The trade turnover between Slovakia and India hit a record of nearly €1.3 billion in 2024, with Slovak exporters increasingly establishing their presence on India's market. Led by Blanar, a Slovak delegation accompanied by a group of business representatives is scheduled to travel to Delhi in a month to follow up on the changes anticipated in trading conditions. jrg/df