Tajani Hopes for EU-India FTA in 6 Months; Goyal Confident on Issues

• Italy's Deputy PM Antonio Tajani hopes the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be signed within the next six months.
• Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed confidence in resolving all issues for a fair and balanced FTA, but declined to give a timeline.
• Both leaders emphasized the FTA's importance for trade, with Italy exporting wines/automobiles and India exporting whiskies/textiles.
• The deal is seen as a "defining agreement" of the 21st century, fostering cooperation between India and the 27-country EU bloc.
• India and Italy are exploring cooperation in areas like a "startup bridge," waste-to-energy, sports, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

Why It Matters: EU-India FTA could reshape global trade and economic ties.