India seeking trade deals with rich, democratic countries: Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the government was interested in doing trade deals with rich countries and democratic allies, as he distanced himself from previous governments' efforts to explore deals with countries he considered competitors.
Mr. Goyal's comments were made at the India Global Forum 2025 conference, during a conversation with Ian Blatchford at London's Science Museum.
The government was focused on 'entering into robust trade agreements with the developed world', he said, contrasting it to the practice '15 years ago, when we were more focused on doing trade agreements with countries who are our competitors'.
Mr. Goyal referred to trade deals with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries, presumably meaning The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations. These talks had commenced in 2012 and India had begun exploring participation in this agreement a few years earlier under the Congress-led UPA government. He described this as 'silly' because the countries in the region have now become the 'B Team of China'.
Citing trade deals or negotiations with countries such as the U.K., Australia, Peru, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the European Free Trade Association countries, he said India's products complemented and did not compete with these countries' products.
'We don't hurt their economies,' he said suggesting that a pair of jeans could be made most cost-effectively in India while medical devices (for instance) could be made most efficiently in economically developed countries. These arrangements would help India grow its innovation ecosystem, Mr. Goyal said, as he pushed for co-development.
'Let's work together as friends and allies of the democratic world,' he added.
Goyal sees goal for India in NHS
Asked by Mr. Blatchford if India could 'save the NHS (National Health Service)', Mr. Goyal said the topic had become 'too much of a political hot potato' in the U.K. Yet he appeared to make a pitch for India being a destination for medical treatments if the problems the NHS faces (such as a lack of funding, shortage of staff and long wait times for treatment) were to become less of a political issue.
Mr. Goyal suggested that patients could fly to India for treatment and that this could be done in a way — in the right political environment — without negatively impacting British jobs but 'supplementing and complementing the effort so that the citizens of United Kingdom and the residents of the U.K. live a healthier and happier life'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
26 minutes ago
- Indian Express
PM Modi's ‘Jungle Raj' dig at RJD, Congress in Bihar: Top quotes from Siwan rally
Ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday took a swipe at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Congress party while addressing a rally in Bihar's Siwan. Top quotes from PM Modi's speech: 📌'Bihar became a symbol of poverty under the rule of 'Panja' (Congress) and 'Laltern' (RJD)… They looted so much that poverty became Bihar's misfortune' 📌'RJD and Congress actions are anti-Bihar and anti-investment. Whenever they talk about development, people see locks hanging on shops, businesses, industries and trades… These people have been the nurturers of poor infrastructure, mafia raj, gunda raj, and corruption…' 📌'The NDA government has brought Bihar back on the path of development' 📌'The people of Bihar have ended 'jungle raj' created by Congress, RJD.' 📌 'Those who brought 'jungle raj' to Bihar are looking for an opportunity to repeat their old deeds somehow. People who are ready to put the brake on the journey towards a prosperous Bihar have to be kept at bay,' he said. 📌'Congress's 'License Raj' kept Bihar poor for a long time… the Dalit and backwards communities were the biggest victims of this. Some families became millionaires and billionaires by showing these people false dreams of being free from poverty…' 📌'RJD insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, people of Bihar will never forgive its leaders' 📌 'We say 'Sabka saath, sabka vikas' but RJD believes in 'parivaar ka vikas'' The PM launched 28 development projects worth more than Rs 5,900 crore. He inaugurated the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, built at a cost of over Rs 400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this route. Additionally, in a major boost to connectivity in north Bihar, Modi also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra (Patna) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. He promoted the 'Make in India – Make for the World' initiative. He also flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at Marhowra plant for export to the Republic of Guinea.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
UP has become land of expressways from bimaru state: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
UP has become land of expressways from bimaru state: UP CM Yogi Adityanath (Image: ANI) AZAMGARH: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed the state government on Friday and said that it is working towards fulfilling the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by the year 2046. CM yogi asserted that Uttar Pradesh has changed its reputation and has become a state of "expressways" from a "bimaru" state. CM Yogi inaugurated the 91.35 km long Gorakhpur Link Expressway in Azamgarh on Friday, connecting several districts to Gorakhpur including Azamgarh He recalled the time when people were afraid of the name of Azamgarh but expressed his happiness that it has joined the path of "development" "The double engine government of the BJP is working to fulfil the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047... Uttar Pradesh has now made its reputation as a state with expressways from a 'bimaru' state.. Eight years ago, people were afraid to take the name of Azamgarh, UP.. Azamgarh has now joined the path of development... Purvanchal Expressway was inaugurated by PM Modi in 2021", CM Yogi said Critising the previous state government, CM Yogi Adityanath said that the work of the Agra-Lucknow Expressway was half done but during his tenure projects related to six expressways in the state have been completed. "The work on the Agra Lucknow expressway was half done. Today I am happy to tell you that we have completed six projects. You are witnessing the journey of the Purvanchal Expressway. We are continuously building it 300 km long. The 340km long Purvanchal Expressway has already been completed and its connectivity to Patna is about to be completed. Now remember how easy the connectivity from Patna to Lucknow and Lucknow to Delhi will become" CM Yogi said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He stated that the 340 km- long Purvanchal Expressway is about to extend its connectivity to Patna. He called freedom fighters Veer Kumar Singh and said that if the Purvanchal Expressway had been built in 1857, India would have become independent at that time. "When Veer Kunwar Singh, the hero of the first war of independence in 1857, fought the British till Azamgarh to defeat them, there was no connectivity. If this Purvanchal expressway had been there at that time, the people of Azamgarh would have beaten the British along with Veer Kunwar Singh and then this country would have become independent in 1857 itself. There was no connectivity at that time", he added Hailing Dinesh lal Yadav Nirahua, during his tenure as the MP of Azamgarh, CM Yogi stated that when he was sent to the parliament, a music college in Hariharpur was approved. He attacked the opposition and asserted that people who made Azamgarh a "stronghold" of terror didn't have enough time to honour the black pottery, sarees and music of the district. "He was sent to the country's parliament, and as soon as Dinesh Lal Yadav became an MP, a gharana of this music college in Hariharpur. Just think, in Hariharpur a gharana of this music needed recognition. the Kayan Badal dance was performed by all the MLAs here together, but those who had made Azamgarh a stronghold of terror could not find them. They did not have enough time to honour black pottery, to honour the sarees of Azamgarh, to honour the music department of Hariharpur village, to give a university to Azamgarh, to connect Azamgarh with air connectivity", CM Yogi added.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
ACB grills Sisodia in school case: AAP slams BJP over ‘false cases', says not a single scam proven in 10 years
NEW DELHI: (AAP) leader and Delhi minister on Friday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre and Delhi administration, alleging a decade-long campaign of political vendetta through over 200 'false' cases against AAP leaders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Her remarks came as former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia appeared before the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) for questioning in a graft case linked to the construction of classrooms in Delhi government schools. Speaking at a press conference, Atishi said, "In the last 10 years, 's ED, CBI, IT and Delhi Police have filed more than 200 false cases against AAP leaders, but till date not even a single rupee has been recovered." She referred to the Supreme Court's recent observation during Arvind Kejriwal's bail hearing, where the court termed central investigative agencies 'caged parrots', as evidence of political misuse of institutions. AAP leader Satyendar Jain had also appeared before the ACB on June 6 in connection with the same case. Accusing the BJP of using diversionary tactics, Atishi said, "There are long power cuts across Delhi, water shortage in homes while roads remain waterlogged. But instead of solving these issues, the BJP is busy running fake cases to mislead the public." She further alleged a conspiracy between the BJP and what she described as the 'education mafia' to dismantle the public education system in Delhi. "They want to shut down Delhi's government schools under the guise of scams that don't exist. Headlines don't prove corruption," she said. Targeting Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Atishi asked, "Apart from painting mohalla clinics and renaming them health temples, what has she really given to the people of Delhi?"
