Harsh Sanghani, President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Youth Committee and Youth Representative to the ICA Global Board, has welcomed the progress on the proposed EU–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), calling it a defining opportunity for the global cooperative movement.
Sanghani said the agreement, often referred to as the “Mother of All Trade Deals,” goes beyond tariff liberalisation and investment and aligns closely with people-centric economic models such as cooperatives. He noted that cooperatives play a vital role in employment generation, food security, financial inclusion, and climate action.
He highlighted that the FTA is aligned with the India–EU Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2030, the EU Green Deal, climate-related mechanisms such as CBAM, and India’s cooperative reform agenda under the Ministry of Cooperation.
With over eight lakh cooperatives in India and a strong cooperative presence across the European Union, Sanghani said the agreement could enable Indian cooperatives to access EU markets in sectors such as agriculture, dairy, food processing, renewable energy, and social finance.
Sanghani also observed that climate-linked trade norms could become an advantage for low-emission, community-based cooperative enterprises. Emphasising technology transfer and institutional partnerships, he called for cooperatives to be strategically integrated into the implementation framework of the EU–India Trade Agreement to ensure inclusive, sustainable growth.
