New Delhi, May 20 (KNN) European Union is keen to engage with the new government on issues related to security, energy, research and innovation, according to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso.

“Today, the European Union is India’s largest trading partner and major foreign direct investment provider,’ Barroso said in his message to India’s Prime Minister elect Narendra Modi to congratulate him on his victory.

“Both trade and investment can be further enhanced through an early conclusion of an ambitious free trade agreement/ broad based trade and investment agreement, strongly contributing to economic growth and job creation in Europe and India,” he added.

European Commission chief further said, “We look forward to working with the new government on these and other issues such as security, energy, research and innovation.”
The total India-EU bilateral trade was USD 94.43 billion during April-February, 2012-13. It was USD 109.86 billion for the entire 2011-12 fiscal.

Recently, the EU had declared that it would ban Indian mangoes and four other vegetables on the grounds that they contained harmful organisms. (KNN/SD)