EU Trade Agreement to Open Countless Opportunities for Indian Youth: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 January said that the free trade agreements (FTAs) India has signed with several countries, and the historic FTA signed between India and the European Union (EU) a day earlier, will open countless opportunities for millions of Indian youth.

Addressing the annual National Cadet Corps PM Rally held in Delhi Cantonment, Modi said that the world looks at Indian youth with great confidence, and this confidence stems from their skills and values.

Modi said, “I had said from the Red Fort, ‘This is the time, the right time.’ This is the time of maximum opportunities for the youth of our country.” He emphasized that the government’s effort is to ensure that youth derive the maximum benefit during this period.

The Prime Minister added, “You saw an example of this just yesterday. India and the European Union have agreed on a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Earlier, India had signed FTAs with countries like Oman, New Zealand, the UK, UAE, Australia, and Mauritius. All these agreements will open countless doors of opportunity for millions of our youth.”

India and the European Union signed the historic FTA on 27 January, described as the largest trade agreement so far. Its aim is to create a market for two billion people. Prime Minister Modi and the EU leadership unveiled a transformative five-year agenda to leverage trade and defense for safeguarding a rules-based global order.

Amid tense relations with the United States, Modi hosted summit talks with EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa. Following the talks, both sides signed two major agreements, one related to security and defense cooperation and the other related to the movement of Indian talent in Europe.