Union Minister Piyush Goyal discusses India’s economic growth opportunities with Standard Chartered Group CEO

London [UK]July 13 (ANI): Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday held a meeting with Standard Chartered Group CEO Bill Winters and discussed how India’s economic growth is giving the group ample opportunities to expand its presence in the country.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Piyush Goyal said, “Met Mr. Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered. We discussed how India’s stellar economic growth provides the group with a wide range of opportunities to collaborate and expand its presence in the country.” Piyush Goyal is currently on a visit to the UK to hold meetings with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member ministers to discuss the implementation of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).

Earlier on July 12, Piyush Goyal spoke to members of the UK chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants every Indian mindset to match that of a developed nation.

Goyal said that India is now the fifth largest economy and recalled the time when India was considered a fragile economy. Goyal called environmental, social and governance (ESG) “important” and said India is committed to it. He stated that now people are looking for investment from India.

Responding to a question, Piyush Goyal said, “Now we are the fifth largest (economy). Imagine in 2013-14, some of you may remember… we were considered a fragile economy. 10 years ago we were in the top five weakest economies . And today we are the fifth largest economy in the world and with strong fundamentals, high foreign reserves, low inflation, relatively stable our currency, the fastest growing large economy in the world. We have all the right acronyms and you have right, people are now looking at investment from India, talent from India, technology from India to developed countries as well. TCS is sponsoring the New York Marathon. So you can imagine that this is a new India that we can all be proud of.”” ESG is undoubtedly important and we are very committed to it as a nation.So you can be sure, you can be proud that today’s India is not the defensive India of the past.Get out of the history or historical perspective where we have always fought with the whole world and opposed everything the western world or the developed world did. The Prime Minister wants every Indian mindset to match that of a developed nation. Until we realize that we will be a developed nation, we will never be a developed nation,” he added.

Piyush Goyal also concluded a “very successful” meeting with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) delegation led by Swiss Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Helen Budliger Artieda. The meeting took place in London on July 11-12, according to a press release from the Ministry of Trade on Wednesday.

Helen Budliger Artieda was also accompanied by representatives of the pharmaceutical, engineering and electronics industries of the EFTA countries. The talks between Minister Piyush Goyal and Secretary of State Helen Budliger Artieda “were fruitful and detailed discussions on important issues with the common goal of speedy conclusion” of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), the release said.

Over the past few months, India and EFTA have significantly intensified their engagement, underscoring the commitment of both sides to the speedy conclusion of the TEPA negotiations. According to the release, the meeting in London further strengthened this commitment, with both sides demonstrating a strong willingness to move forward towards a final agreement. (ANI)