Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had a crucial bilateral meet to push FTAs with both the United Kingdom and European Union on the sidelines of the G7 Trade Ministers' meet at Reggio Calabria in Italy. According to the official statement issued Wednesday, details of these talks that set the outlines for deepening economic relations were shared.

Noting this, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal expressed congratulations over the appointment of Jonathan Reynolds as Secretary of State for Business and Trade, UK, and emphasized the need to strengthen the two countries' bilateral economic ties. The discussion remained on how to take the India-UK FTA talks further.

During another interaction, Goyal met Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis. The two discussed various issues aimed at strengthening India-EU trade and economic cooperation, notably FTA negotiations. Both sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in different areas of shared interests, an official statement said.

The meeting of Goyal with Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, concluded with an agreement over the strengthening of bilateral trade, investments, industrial co-production, and cooperation in clean technologies. Goyal further commended Tajani for hosting a very productive meeting of the G7 Trade Ministers.

Further discussions with New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay were held on this platform for further consolidation of this strong trade relation between India and New Zealand. The ministers looked at ways to boost two-way trade and investment relations, recognizing mutual growth.

Goyal also met Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs & Climate Action of Germany. Their discussions pertained to strengthening the Indo-German trade and economic partnership. The forthcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations and the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses to be held in Delhi formed part of their discussion.

Such strategic bilateral engagements are bound to move ahead in a big way the trade ties of India with its key international partners, the official statement said.