JUNE 01: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal has begun a three-day official visit to France, marking the first leg of his international tour to France and Italy from June 1 to June 5, 2025. The visit underscores India’s dedication to strengthening strategic and economic relationships with key European nations and advancing collaborative efforts for global economic resilience and growth.
While in France, Shri Goyal will hold high-level bilateral discussions with French ministers, including Mr. Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, and Mr. Laurent Saint-Martin, Trade Minister. The talks aim to deepen the Indo-French economic partnership by identifying new opportunities for trade, investment, and technological collaboration.
In addition to ministerial engagements, Shri Goyal is scheduled to interact with top executives from major French corporations such as Vicat, Total Energies, L’Oréal, Renault, Valeo, EDF, and ATR. These discussions will take place during the India-France Business Round Table and the India-France CEO Forum, both of which are expected to foster dialogue and joint ventures between the business communities of the two countries.
A key highlight of the visit includes Shri Goyal’s participation in the informal World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministers’ gathering, taking place on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. The forum will serve as an opportunity for the Indian Minister to engage with global trade counterparts, share India’s perspectives, and advocate for a more inclusive and balanced multilateral trade system.
As part of his broader diplomatic engagements, Shri Goyal will also meet with several trade ministers from across the world. These include the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister, and the Commerce Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Israel, Nigeria, and Brazil. These dialogues are expected to advance India’s global trade interests and contribute to momentum in India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
Further emphasizing India’s engagement with regional blocs, Shri Goyal will meet with key European Union officials including Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and Mr. Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. These meetings aim to bolster cooperation on trade, economic security, and sustainability.
After concluding his engagements in France, Shri Piyush Goyal will continue his official visit in Italy, where similar strategic and business-level discussions are planned.