5th Strategic Forum India: Trade and Geoeconomics in the EU-India Strategic Partnership

Trade is back at the centre of EU-India relations. Amidst debates on strategic autonomy in both Europe and India, as well as on China’s influence over Asia’s trade architecture, stands the fact that the EU is India’s third largest trading partner. There is a huge untapped potential for trade in goods and services. The joint statement adopted at the EU-India Leaders’ Meeting in May 2021 concluded that trade negotiations were to be re-started, and negotiations for separate agreements on investment protection and on geographical indications were to begin in parallel. Both sides have shown political will to set the negotiations in motion. From European and Swedish companies’ perspectives, there is plenty of interest to clarify the conditions for increased access to India’s market as well as its possible role in regional and global supply chains.  

Prospects for a comprehensive free trade agreement may be debated. With fast paced negotiations between India and the UK, as well as two signed deals with the UAE and Australia, there could be lessons to learn about India’s view on trade, geoeconomics and modernisation of its economy. But will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine impact the negotiations? In the fifth edition of Strategic Forum India, we take stock of Swedish, European, and Indian perspectives on geoeconomics, trade, and re-started negotiations.  

Programme

14:45-14:55: Introduction

Niclas Kvarnström, Head of Department for Asia and the Pacific Region,  Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

14:55-15:45: Panel I

Geoeconomic perspectives on EU-India free trade agreement negotiations, with

Mihir Sharma, Director of Center for Economy and Growth Programme, Observer Research Foundation

Ada Dyndo, Principal Consultant of European Business & Technology Centre and President of Women’s India Chamber of Commerce and Industry India-EU Business Council 

Nicolas Köhler Suzuki, Trade Advisor, International Trade Intelligence and Associated Researcher Jaques Delors Institute

Moderator: Henrik Chetan Aspengren, Research Fellow, Swedish Institute of International Affairs

15:45-16:00: Coffee break 

16:00-16:10: Reflections on Australia-India ECTA

Bernard Philip, Australia's ambassador to Sweden

16:10-17:00: Panel II

The significance of inking a deal: What benefits are at the horizon from an industry perspective? With

Henrik Isaksson, Director of Trade Policy, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise

Keika Lee, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Inter IKEA Group

Moderator: Robin Sukhia, Secretary General and President, Sweden-India Business Council  

17:00-17:05 Concluding remarks

Strategic Forum India offers a platform for dialogue and knowledge-building between Swedish business representatives, government officials, academics, and observers with an interest in contemporary India and its growing global footprint. The event is arranged by the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) and the Sweden-India Business Council (SIBC). It is sponsored by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and held under the Chatham House Rule.

The event is a closed-door, invite-only event.  

Welcome!