Davos: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the proposed trade deal between India and the European Union (EU) would be a “game-changer”, highlighting the strong and trusted ties between the two sides and growing cooperation across sectors.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Sarma said Indian companies need wider access to global markets, a requirement that would be substantially addressed through the upcoming India–EU trade agreement.
“Europe clearly sees India as a dependable partner, which is evident from recent statements by the European Union leadership,” Sarma said. He added that EU leaders have underlined India’s emergence as a major global investment hub, driven by stable policies and a fast-growing economy that continues to attract sustained European investments and partnerships.
The remarks come ahead of the India–EU Summit scheduled for January 27, which is expected to further strengthen economic relations between the two sides amid increasing global market uncertainties triggered by US tariff-related disruptions and wider geopolitical shifts.
Sarma noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently revised India’s growth projection, estimating a growth rate of 7.3 per cent for the 2025–26 financial year. “India will soon become the third-largest economy in the world in terms of GDP and has several other advantages,” he said.
Highlighting India’s economic resilience, the Chief Minister said the country’s maturity as a democracy allows it to adapt and diversify its strategies. “Even if one or two approaches do not work, there is no need to worry. India can diversify and explore other markets. Our economy has many strengths, including a large domestic market,” he added.
Sarma also said this was the first time Assam had participated at the Davos forum with a focused outreach agenda. “Our responsibility was to introduce global leaders to Assam. People are listening to us and are committing to invest,” he said.
Earlier at the WEF annual meeting, Sarma said Assam is proactively preparing its workforce for an increasingly automated and Artificial Intelligence-driven future. He highlighted that the state is leveraging its young demographic advantage and reshaping its skill development ecosystem to align with industry needs and emerging technologies, with a focus on building a future-ready workforce.