Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 13:42 IST
The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights India-EU FTA and India-UK FTA as key drivers for manufacturing, export growth, and trade diversification.
India–EU Trade Deal Could Enhance Export Resilience, Says Economic Survey
The Economic Survey 2025–26 said the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement will boost manufacturing to both sides by helping Europe revive parts of its manufacturing base while strengthening India’s manufacturing competitiveness, export resilience and strategic capacity.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 was tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Thursday, January 29.
Realising the potential of trade agreements requires that we can produce competitively, it added.
The survey also projected that the exports from gems and jewellery sector to the UK will increase significantly in the coming years due
to the recently signed India-UK FTA. This development is likely to have a positive influence on other markets, both existing and potential.)
Commenting on India’s attempt to diversify its trade exports, the survey said the India had concluded FTA agreements with countries, including UK [India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
(CETA)], Oman [the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic and Partnership Agreement (CEPA)], and engagements in free-trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US, Chile, and Peru.
n expanding network of FTAs supports India’s trade strategy by offering reliable market access amid global uncertainty, it added. “These agreements enable export-focused firms to boost production and become more integrated into GVC,” the survey said.
Furthermore, by exposing firms to international competition, FTAs improve export competitiveness, encouraging firms to prioritise productivity and reliability over reliance on access-based benefits.
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January 29, 2026, 13:42 IST
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