Shri Piyush Goyal to hold bilateral meetings with French Ministers of Economy and Trade to strengthen economic partnership

Shri Goyal to engage in informal WTO Ministers’ gathering on margins of OECD Ministerial Council Meeting

The Union Minister to hold bilateral engagements with trade ministers of the UK, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Nigeria and Brazil

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, commenced his three-day official visit to France on 1st June 2025, as part of his ongoing visit to France and Italy from 1–5 June 2025. The visit reflects India’s continued commitment to deepening strategic and economic ties with key European partners and advancing a shared vision for resilient and inclusive global growth.

During his engagements in France, Shri Goyal is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with French Ministers, including Mr. Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, and Mr. Laurent Saint-Martin, French Trade Minister. The discussions will focus on strengthening the Indo-French economic partnership and exploring new avenues for enhancing trade and investment cooperation.

As part of the high-level visit to France, a comprehensive agenda of strategic business meetings and engagements has been scheduled - with top leadership of major French companies such as Vicat, Total Energies, L’Oréal, Renault, Valeo, EDF and ATR, the visit will feature the India-France Business Round Table and the India-France CEO Forum, fostering dialogue between leading industry stakeholders from both countries.

During his stay, the Minister will also participate in the informal gathering of WTO Ministers on the margins of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. At this crucial forum, he will engage with global counterparts on key multilateral trade issues and articulate the perspectives and priorities of India.

As part of the visit, the Minister will hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key international partners. These include the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan Reynolds; Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Gan Kim Yong; and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kasabi. The Minister will also engage with Israel’s Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr. Nir Barkat; Nigeria’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole OON; and Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Mauro Luis Iecker Vieira. These dialogues are aimed at advancing strategic economic cooperation and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships across regions. They will also provide significant impetus to India-EU FTA negotiations.

Further reinforcing India’s engagement with regional blocs, meetings are planned with key EU officials, including Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, and Mr. Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. These engagements reflect India's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships, and position itself as a pivotal player in global trade and investment.

Following his engagements in France, Shri Goyal will proceed to Italy for the next leg of his visit.

Trade diplomacy advances India's economic partnerships and supports FTA negotiations through ministerial and business engagements. Union commerce minister's visit to France focuses on strengthening bilateral and multilateral trade and investment cooperation through ministerial talks, corporate engagements at the India France Business Round Table and CEO Forum, and participation in an informal WTO ministers' gathering; the itinerary also includes bilateral meetings with multiple international trade counterparts and European Commission officials to support India EU FTA negotiations and related trade and regulatory discussions.