During the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Rajesh Agrawal, the Commerce Secretary of India, stressed the need for industries to effectively utilize the country's new free trade agreements (FTAs). He pointed out that while these agreements have the potential to enhance trade and attract investments, India's historical performance in FTA utilization has been subpar. Agrawal noted that although FTAs have led to increased trade volumes, India's exports have not kept pace with imports, which he attributed to the country's rising domestic demand. The new FTAs with countries such as Australia, the European Union, and New Zealand are designed to go beyond just tariff reductions and aim to foster investment opportunities. Agrawal called for collaboration between the government and the industry to fully leverage these agreements for the benefit of the Indian economy.