India's exports likely to grow by around 6 per cent this year: Piyush Goyal

18 Sep 2025 Evaluate

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has expressed confidence that India's exports would grow by around 6 per cent this year compared to the corresponding period in 2024. Underscoring the country's strong performance in global trade despite challenges, he said discussions on free trade agreements (FTAs) were advancing with several countries. He said ‘I believe we will end the year on a positive note’, and added that discussions on free trade agreements (FTAs) were advancing with several countries.

He noted ‘India's growing strength and the fact that we will be moving in the Amritkal from a $4 trillion economy to a $30 trillion-plus economy clearly show that India is the place to do business. The world would like to work closer with India’. He emphasised that India's domestic momentum and external engagements were reinforcing each other. He said ‘We have recently come out with the lowest unemployment data at 5.1 per cent’. He further said India is the fastest-growing large economy, and the infrastructure thrust and consumer demand expected from GST 2.0 will give another boost to investment, job creation, and expansion of trade and industry.

He highlighted that several countries were actively pursuing FTAs with India. He said ‘With the European Union, we had good discussions in the last round. Their two commissioners of agriculture and trade visited Delhi, and the discussions made rapid progress. We may have another virtual or physical round soon. EU President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi guided us to complete the negotiations by year-end, and we are continuing to work towards that goal’. Citing the successful free trade pact with the UAE, he said it was the world's fastest FTA.

He noted that the UAE was a ‘gateway for the African region, the Gulf, and Eastern Europe’ and a crucial trading partner for India. He added ‘There is a lot of investment interest from the UAE into India. I am very confident that this partnership will only strengthen further’. He also said similar discussions were underway with Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Oman and others. He noted ‘It is an ongoing process. Many countries want to start discussions on FTAs because India has immense potential’.

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