President Droupadi Murmu has expressed happiness over the successful conclusion of the historic negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, adding that it will bring significant positive changes to the lives of the people of both nations. President Murmu said, the deal reflects the collective aspiration of both sides to shape a stable, balanced, and rules-based international order. She said, India and Europe are connected not only by contemporary interests, but also by shared values such as democracy, pluralism, and an open market economy.

She was speaking at the banquet hosted in honour of President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at Rashtrapati Bhavan last evening. President Murmu said that economic cooperation is a key pillar of India-European Union relations. She said, India and the EU view trade and investment as instruments of shared prosperity and social progress.

President Murmu said the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership concluded during this visit will open new opportunities for the defence industries. The President said that India is keen to further strengthen cooperation with the EU in the fields of clean energy, climate finance, and sustainable technologies.