India-EU Connectivity Conference to focus on digital, energy & transport

The India-EU Connectivity Conference, to be held in Meghalaya on June 1-2, 2023, will look at increasing connectivity investments in the North-Eastern states as well as strengthening ties with India’s neighbours. The meet has been organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in collaboration with the EU Delegation to India and the Asian Confluence.

“The conference objective is to explore possibilities of boosting connectivity investments in India’s North Eastern States and with India’s neighbours (Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh),” the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday (May 31, 2023).

The event seeks to find innovative ideas for cooperative execution with a particular focus on digital, energy, and transport. This objective was also highlighted as a crucial outcome during the recent Ministerial Meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC).

The conference will be inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Kongkal Sangma and Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh. Senior officials of the Government of India, EU Commission, Government(s) of the North Eastern States of India, Government(s) of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh and stakeholders from the private sector are expected to participate and provide their insights and views on the subject.

This important meeting is an outcome of the India-EU connectivity partnership, which was established during the May 2021 India-EU Leaders' Summit. The Summit, held in Lisbon, Portugal, was attended by leaders of all 27 EU member states as well as the President of the European Council and the European Commission.

This partnership, which is based on the shared principles of social, economic, fiscal, climate and environmental sustainability, and respect for international law and commitments, is meant to serve as a catalyst for both private and public financing investment in connectivity projects. Moreover, it aims to establish new synergies to aid connectivity initiatives in third countries, including in the Indo-Pacific.

Along with expanding the India-EU Strategic Partnership, other topics discussed during the India-EU Leaders' Summit included trade, Covid-19, foreign policy, and environmental issues. The leaders also declared specific consultations on a number of economic issues and decided to resume talks on free trade and investment agreements.

They promised to work together on key issues including digital technology, regional cooperation, and climate change. A funding agreement for a metro rail project and an India-EU Business Roundtable were also included in the conference. This meeting sets a new direction for the Strategic Partnership and the India-EU Roadmap 2025.