India-EU mobility pact to ease movement of students, professionals under historic trade deal: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday highlighted the India-European Union mobility pact as a major outcome of the landmark free trade agreement (FTA) signed between the two sides, calling it a transformative step for Indian students, skilled workers and professionals.

Addressing a joint press conference at Hyderabad House with Ursula von der Leyen, PM Modi said the mobility agreement would make it easier for Indians to study, work and build careers across EU member states, creating new global opportunities for India’s growing talent pool.

“The mobility pact reflects mutual trust and shared aspirations. It will greatly benefit our youth, professionals and businesses by enabling smoother movement and deeper people-to-people ties,” the Prime Minister said.

The mobility agreement forms part of the broader India-EU free trade deal, described by Modi as the biggest trade agreement in India’s history. Alongside trade liberalisation, the pact aims to strengthen cooperation in education, innovation, technology and workforce development.

Under the overall agreement, the EU will significantly reduce or eliminate tariffs on a wide range of exports to India, while Indian businesses gain improved access to one of the world’s largest markets. The European Union currently accounts for nearly 17 per cent of India’s total exports.

Von der Leyen described the India-EU FTA as the “mother of all deals,” saying it marks the beginning of a stronger strategic partnership. “This agreement is not just about trade. It is about connecting people, skills and opportunities,” she said.

In addition to trade and mobility, India and the EU also announced the launch of an EU-India Security and Defence Partnership, signalling deeper cooperation amid a challenging global environment.

The India-EU partnership covers economies with a combined population of nearly two billion people, positioning the agreement as one of the most significant global trade and mobility frameworks in recent years.

(This story was taken from syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)