India’s 9 FTAs Unlock 2/3rds Global Trade Access: Minister Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India has successfully concluded nine free trade agreements with 38 countries, granting Indian businesses preferential access to nearly two-thirds of global trade flows. Speaking at the 27th EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Mumbai, Goyal emphasised that these FTAs will enable Indian goods, services, agricultural products, fisheries and labour-intensive sectors to penetrate new markets, integrate into global value chains and facilitate enhanced talent mobility across borders.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Through Global Supply Chain Resilience

Goyal positioned the agreements as central to Aatmanirbhar Bharat’s strategic vision, framing self-reliance not as isolation but as constructing resilient, trusted and diversified supply chains through proactive global engagement. He called upon entrepreneurs, industry leaders and MSMEs to aggressively pursue these opportunities, extending market access benefits to farmers, exporters and fishermen nationwide. The minister expressed firm confidence that India’s youth will steer the nation through Amrit Kaal toward developed economy status by 2047.

Delivering the keynote address to leading entrepreneurs, industry captains and startup founders, Goyal reaffirmed India’s relentless growth trajectory powered by entrepreneurial dynamism and demographic advantage. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate toward realising Viksit Bharat, underscoring that India’s youth and human capital constitute the core engine of national progress.

AI Transforms Jobs, India’s 2.3M Annual STEM Talent Leads Charge

Addressing concerns over artificial intelligence’s employment impact, Goyal asserted that AI will fundamentally transform rather than eliminate jobs, drawing parallels to the Y2K inflection point that positioned India globally. He highlighted India’s production of approximately 2.3 million STEM graduates annually, creating an unparalleled reservoir of young, adaptable and ambitious talent ready to capitalise on emerging opportunities.

The minister identified passion, innovation and skilled manpower as India’s paramount competitive advantages, with AI driving demand for professionals in cybersecurity, data protection and system governance. These agreements, combined with technological evolution, position Indian businesses for stronger exports, higher-value work and deeper global integration, Goyal concluded while presenting awards to top entrepreneurs.