India, GCC welcome FTA talks at New York Troika ministerial

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council reviewed the implementation of their Joint Action Plan and exchanged views on regional and international developments at the India-GCC Troika Ministerial Meeting held in New York on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led the Indian delegation at the meeting on September 25. The GCC side was represented at the Troika level by Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir. Ministers and senior officials from the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait also took part.

The two sides welcomed the launch of negotiations for an India-GCC Free Trade Agreement after the Terms of Reference were finalised in February 2026. They noted that the agreement, once signed, is expected to unlock the full potential of bilateral trade and serve as a force multiplier for global good, while helping expand and diversify exports and deepen economic integration.

Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to build on the outcomes of the first India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue, held in Riyadh on September 9, 2024. They reviewed the India-GCC Joint Action Plan 2024-2028, which covers political dialogue, security, trade and investment, agriculture and food security, transportation, energy, health, culture and education, and appreciated the steady progress made across these sectors.

Total trade between India and the GCC stood at USD 178.66 billion in FY 2025-26. Jaishankar thanked GCC countries for supplying energy and fertiliser despite disruption of trade routes during the recent conflict in West Asia, and called for further strengthening the energy partnership through expanded cooperation in renewables, biofuels and green technologies.

On people-to-people ties, the leaders stressed the importance of joint activities in arts, heritage, yoga, music, cinema and literature. Jaishankar appreciated GCC countries for ensuring the welfare of the Indian diaspora and their safety during the recent West Asia conflict.

The discussions also covered the situation in West Asia, challenges to commercial shipping in international waterways, reform of multilateral institutions, sustainability and terrorism. Jaishankar underlined the importance of regional peace and security and the use of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts, and reiterated India's commitment to freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers and commercial shipping.

Both sides agreed to hold the second edition of the India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue at an early date.