India–EFTA Trade Pact With $100 Billion Investment Comes Into Force

03 Oct 2025 CW Team

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hailed TEPA as a defining moment in India’s economic engagement with Europe, describing it as a “trusted partnership between friends” rooted in mutual respect. He emphasised that the pact is the first of its kind to include a firm investment commitment, balancing interests and strengthening investor confidence.

The agreement will boost cooperation across life sciences, clean energy, precision engineering, food processing, AI, education, healthcare, shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing. Goyal highlighted complementarities between India’s scale and talent and EFTA’s strengths in innovation and finance, adding that the partnership will enhance growth while protecting sustainability.

He underlined that the pact is not just about tariff cuts but about establishing a stable and predictable framework that signals India and EFTA’s commitment to inclusive growth. The deal is expected to particularly benefit MSMEs, farmers, and services exporters by improving standards cooperation, reducing compliance costs and providing premium-market access.

Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda described the pact as a “win-win partnership” and reaffirmed EFTA businesses’ belief in India’s growth story. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal added that the agreement marks the start of a new era of innovation and prosperity, reflecting global confidence in India’s trajectory towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

TEPA’s implementation will focus on sectoral roadmaps, MSME onboarding, logistics facilitation, and stronger FTA utilisation. The partnership harnesses the “Power of Five”: India’s scale, Switzerland’s finance and precision manufacturing, Norway’s maritime expertise, Iceland’s clean-tech, and Liechtenstein’s specialised engineering.

The Prosperity Summit in New Delhi marked the entry into force of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which sets an investment target of $100 billion over 15 years and aims to create one million direct jobs in India while opening access to goods and services across Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hailed TEPA as a defining moment in India’s economic engagement with Europe, describing it as a “trusted partnership between friends” rooted in mutual respect. He emphasised that the pact is the first of its kind to include a firm investment commitment, balancing interests and strengthening investor confidence.The agreement will boost cooperation across life sciences, clean energy, precision engineering, food processing, AI, education, healthcare, shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing. Goyal highlighted complementarities between India’s scale and talent and EFTA’s strengths in innovation and finance, adding that the partnership will enhance growth while protecting sustainability.He underlined that the pact is not just about tariff cuts but about establishing a stable and predictable framework that signals India and EFTA’s commitment to inclusive growth. The deal is expected to particularly benefit MSMEs, farmers, and services exporters by improving standards cooperation, reducing compliance costs and providing premium-market access.Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda described the pact as a “win-win partnership” and reaffirmed EFTA businesses’ belief in India’s growth story. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal added that the agreement marks the start of a new era of innovation and prosperity, reflecting global confidence in India’s trajectory towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.TEPA’s implementation will focus on sectoral roadmaps, MSME onboarding, logistics facilitation, and stronger FTA utilisation. The partnership harnesses the “Power of Five”: India’s scale, Switzerland’s finance and precision manufacturing, Norway’s maritime expertise, Iceland’s clean-tech, and Liechtenstein’s specialised engineering.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..