EU-India Business Cooperation Strengthened With Launch Of European Economic Group
The group will interact with relevant government stakeholders in India and provide insights on a favorable business ecosystem whilst facilitating knowledge sharing in areas of mutual interest.
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The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to India, H.E. Tomasz Kozlowski, and Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, announced the launch of the European Economic Group (EEG) - a working group positioned as the single European business voice in India aimed at enhancing Europe India business cooperation.
The Ambassador of the EU to India, H.E. Tomasz Kozlowski, in his keynote address underlined the commitment of the European Union towards enhancing trade and investment into the Indian market. “The EEG launched today brings together the EBG Federation, European bilateral chambers, European business member organisations and trade delegates of the EU and key European countries. It presents suggestions and solutions that can contribute to making the business environment more conducive, whilst strengthening EU-India business cooperation through the consolidation of European businesses and their economic engagement with the Indian market.”
The Chief Guest for the launch event, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in his keynote stated that, “The European Economic Group as the single European business voice in India can give impetus to trade and investments into India and help in better sharing of knowledge, technology and best practices between Indian and European counterparts.” Referring to the India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP) that was signed in 2016, he stressed that the water sector is an important catalyst for increased EU-India business ties and remarked, “We welcome active participation from EU companies having the technical know-how to contribute to the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of water management in India.”
Additional Secretary and DC, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Ram Mohan Mishra, IAS, highlighted the vision of the Ministry and said, “Increasing EUIndia business cooperation, especially in the SME sector through forward thinking policy-frameworks and exchange of best practices is an important element of the government's policy”. The Ministry welcomed European Economic Group EEG relevant inputs from the European Economic Group for SMEs-related challenges to enhance more collaboration opportunities for SMEs in India. The Chairman of EBG Federation, Mr. Raman Sidhu who has been nominated as the first spokesperson for the EEG in his opening remarks reiterated that, “The group will interact with relevant government stakeholders in India and provide insights on a favorable business ecosystem whilst facilitating knowledge sharing in areas of mutual interest."
“EEG will contribute across sectors with a focus on SMEs”, explained Mr. Poul V. Jensen, the Team Leader of the EU Project ‘Business Support to the EU-India Policy Dialogues’ and Director of the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC), which is the Secretariat of the EEG.