Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry. File.
| Photo Credit: Kamal Narang

Union Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal is heading for a two-day visit to London, starting Monday, to take forward negotiations for bilateral trade pacts with the United Kingdom and the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc.

Mr. Goyal will engage in high-level meetings with his U.K. counterparts, including the Secretary of State for International Trade, as well as representatives from various sectors and industries. U.K.’s Minister for International Trade Nigel Huddleston said last week that half of the chapters in the proposed bilateral trade agreement had been worked out and concluded already.

“These meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss the key priorities and objectives of the Free Trade Agreement [FTA] negotiations, with a focus on addressing trade barriers, promoting investments, and fostering greater cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, and intellectual property rights,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

Meetings are also scheduled with ministers from the EFTA member-countries — Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein — to assess the progress made in the ongoing negotiations of a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). The pact will strive to enhance trade and economic cooperation between India and the EFTA member-countries, fostering an environment conducive to increased investments, reduced trade barriers, and greater market access.