FIEO backs PM Modi's UAE-Europe tour, sees $70 bn trade boost
Synopsis
FIEO is framing PM Modi's five-nation tour — UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Italy — as a potential inflection point for Indian exports, with over $70 billion in collective bilateral trade on the line. The visit lands just as the India-EU FTA and TEPA come into focus, giving Indian exporters a rare window across green energy, semiconductors, defence, and digital trade.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi is visiting the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from 15–20 May .
FIEO President SC Ralhan said India's bilateral trade with these nations collectively exceeds $70 billion .
The visit follows the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the India-EFTA TEPA .
Key sectors expected to benefit include engineering, clean energy, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, defence manufacturing, and digital trade .
The India-Nordic Summit in Oslo and the European Round Table for Industry are among the major business engagements on the itinerary.
The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) on Thursday, 14 May expressed strong support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-nation tour spanning the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from 15–20 May, calling it a pivotal moment for India's trade and investment agenda at a time of global economic uncertainty.
FIEO's Assessment of the Visit
FIEO President SC Ralhan described the tour as arriving at a crucial juncture, with India actively deepening its economic integration with both Europe and the Gulf region. He said the visit underlines India's growing stature as a trusted global economic partner and is expected to generate substantial new opportunities for Indian exporters across sectors including engineering, clean energy, technology, pharmaceuticals, food processing, textiles, logistics, and digital trade.
India-UAE: A Strategic Economic Corridor
Ralhan highlighted that the bilateral relationship with the UAE has matured into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with the Gulf nation serving as one of India's most important trade and investment partners and a critical gateway for Indian exports to the Middle East and Africa. He noted that the visit is expected to further consolidate cooperation in energy, infrastructure, investments, and services trade. The sizeable Indian diaspora in the UAE, he added, continues to act as a vital bridge for business and people-to-people ties.
Europe Engagement: FTA Backdrop and Future Sectors
On the European leg, Ralhan emphasised that the visit gains added significance against the backdrop of the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). He said Prime Minister Modi's discussions with European leaders are expected to advance cooperation in green hydrogen, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), clean technologies, defence manufacturing, blue economy, and resilient supply chains.
Nordic Summit and Business Forums
FIEO specifically highlighted the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo as an opportunity to deepen collaboration in renewable energy, climate technologies, maritime sectors, digital innovation, and advanced manufacturing. The organisation also welcomed Modi's participation in the European Round Table for Industry and the India-Norway Business and Research Summit, saying such engagements will enhance investor confidence and strengthen industrial partnerships.
Trade and Investment at Stake
Ralhan noted that India's bilateral trade with the countries covered during the tour collectively exceeds $70 billion, with investments from these regions into India continuing to rise. FIEO said the visit is expected to provide fresh impetus to cross-border investments and economic cooperation at a time when global trade routes are under pressure. The outcomes of this tour will be closely watched by Indian industry bodies and exporters across sectors.
Point of View
But the real measure of this tour will be in binding commitments, not communiqués. The India-EU FTA is a significant backdrop, yet its implementation timeline and tariff schedules remain contested. Modi's European engagements have historically generated strong optics and broad intent, with the harder work of converting those into signed investment deals and verifiable export orders falling to follow-up missions. The $70 billion trade figure is also a collective baseline — not a target — and the sectors FIEO lists, from green hydrogen to AI, are all areas where India is still building competitive capacity. The Nordic summit in Oslo is the most underreported stop: Nordic sovereign and pension funds represent a patient-capital pool that Indian infrastructure has barely tapped.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries is PM Modi visiting from May 15 to 20?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy between 15 and 20 May. The tour covers key Gulf and European economic partners.
Why has FIEO welcomed PM Modi's Europe and UAE visit?
FIEO believes the visit will generate fresh trade and investment opportunities for Indian exporters across sectors such as engineering, clean energy, pharmaceuticals, and digital trade. The organisation also noted that bilateral trade with the countries on the itinerary collectively exceeds $70 billion.
What is the significance of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement in this context?
The recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement provides a formal framework for deeper market access between India and European nations. FIEO said Modi's discussions with European leaders are expected to accelerate implementation and open new sectoral opportunities under the agreement.
What is the India-Nordic Summit and why does it matter?
The India-Nordic Summit is scheduled to take place in Oslo during Modi's visit to Norway. FIEO highlighted it as a platform for collaboration in renewable energy, climate technologies, maritime sectors, and digital innovation — areas where Nordic nations hold advanced expertise.
Which sectors are expected to benefit most from PM Modi's five-nation tour?
FIEO identified engineering, clean energy, green hydrogen, semiconductors, AI, pharmaceuticals, food processing, textiles, logistics, defence manufacturing, and digital trade as key sectors. These span both the UAE and European legs of the visit.
