A top Spanish diplomat warns that businesses skipping India’s investment landscape will forfeit a defining share of the 21st century economy.
Manuel Muñiz, formerly Secretary of State for Global Spain and now rector of IE University in Madrid, framed the stakes bluntly. His comments arrive as India and the European Union push toward a free trade agreement expected to double bilateral commerce.
The deal targets a December signing. Implementation would follow in early 2027 after European Parliament approval.
“It is a strategic deal,” Muñiz said. Roughly half the projected growth will come from services, which he views as evidence of the partnership’s sophistication.
Technology stands to gain disproportionately. Both sides bring distinct strengths to the innovation supply chain, and the agreement would amplify those advantages, he explained.
Even without an investment chapter in the FTA, Muñiz sees a compelling case for European companies to enter India now. Long-term projections show four economies dominating globally over the next five decades: the United States, China, India, and the European Union.
“What we are witnessing with this deal is truly strategic if you project it forward,” he noted.
India’s technology edge lies in human capital. Large numbers of STEM graduates flow from Indian institutions each year, and the trade pact would open a broader European market for their work.
Meanwhile, India’s startup ecosystem continues expanding. Cleaner access to European markets would give those ventures greater scalability and simpler pathways to grow.
Europe offers more than consumer demand, Muñiz pointed out. A world-class research network, built by universities including IE, drives technology innovation and transfer. European regulatory expertise and a large public sector that consumes technology at scale could also appeal to Indian entrepreneurs.
