Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal addressed the Indian industry on the importance of leveraging free trade agreements (FTAs) to enhance trade and investment opportunities. He noted that India's track record in fully utilizing FTAs has been lacking, with exports growing at a slower rate than imports despite the implementation of agreements with countries such as Singapore, Japan, and Korea. Agrawal highlighted the need for the industrial policy to align with trade policy, emphasizing that effective utilization of FTAs requires collaboration between the government and industry stakeholders. He pointed out that modern FTAs with countries like Mauritius, the UAE, and Australia focus on more than just tariffs, aiming to create a predictable regulatory environment for investors. Agrawal urged industries to incorporate these agreements into their long-term business strategies and to actively seek opportunities within global value chains, stating that the potential benefits of these FTAs will remain unrealized without effective leverage.