TEPA to boost 99.6% of Indian exports to EFTA countries; Expected to boost direct jobs for India’s young aspirational workforce in the next 15 years

India has intensified efforts to implement the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), with commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal embarking on a four-day trip to Norway on 22 November. The visit underscores India’s push for broader global trade engagement, as TEPA offers unprecedented opportunities for Indian exports, services, and investments. The agreement, signed in March 2024 with the EFTA countriesSwitzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtensteinaims to bolster India’s trade relations with the bloc by removing trade barriers and enhancing market access.