PolicyTrade
Goyal meets Scotland's John Swinney and Chile's Eduardo Frei on trade and investment
The commerce minister discussed openings under the India-UK trade agreement with Scotland's First Minister, and a pending trade pact with a Chilean delegation led by the former president.
Key points
- Piyush Goyal and Scottish First Minister John Swinney discussed semiconductors, renewables and data centres.
- With former Chilean President Eduardo Frei, he talked about new avenues for trade and investment.
- India and Chile aim to conclude a comprehensive economic partnership agreement by the end of 2026.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held separate meetings on Wednesday with Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, and a Chilean delegation led by former President Eduardo Frei, as India works to make use of its new trade agreements and close new ones.
With Swinney, the talks centred on what the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) opens up, particularly in semiconductors, renewable energy, data centres and other technology-led sectors. “We held productive discussions on advancing the India–Scotland economic and trade partnership,” Goyal wrote on X afterwards. The two also discussed higher education, science, space, tourism and links between industries in both countries.
The CETA came into force on 15 July 2026. The Commerce Ministry says it gives nearly 99% of India’s exports zero-duty access to the British market.
Chile talks
Frei, who now serves as Chile’s Ambassador on a Special Mission, came with Chilean officials and representatives of CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Goyal said they “exchanged views on strengthening India-Chile economic ties and exploring new avenues for trade”.
India and Chile are negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to build on their existing preferential trade agreement. In a statement on 30 August, the ministry said both sides were aiming to conclude the talks by the end of 2026, with access to critical and strategic minerals a priority.
Neither meeting produced any announced investment commitment or agreement.