83
EU firms’ inputs consolidated across sectors to inform the position paper
14+
policy recommendations developed to inform EU-India FTA and investment negotiations
The Task
From 83 firms to a single, structured reform position.
The mandate: capture genuine operational experience across 83 firms and translate it into a structured reform agenda that policymakers on both sides could engage with seriously.
The Approach
Four steps. Designed for depth, representation, and credibility.
Step 01
Industry-wide consultations
Engagement with firms across manufacturing, ICT, logistics, and consumer goods, ensuring the position paper reflected the full range of EU business experience in India.
Step 02
Surveys and executive interviews
Detailed questionnaires and structured executive interviews on tariffs, regulatory barriers, logistics inefficiencies, and investment conditions, grounded in documented business experience.
Step 03
Company-level grounding
Firm-level inputs highlighting specific operational challenges: conflicting regulations across authorities, complex tax structures, and high logistics costs.
Step 04
Thematic synthesis and policy framing
Insights structured into five areas: tariffs, non-tariff barriers, public procurement, IP protection, and investment climate, directly linked to EU-India negotiation priorities.
The Analysis
A comprehensive paper with the collective voice of EU industry in India and a roadmap for policy and reform discussions.
High tariffs, complex tax regimes, regulatory inconsistencies, and cumbersome licensing processes were identified as major deterrents to investment.
Operational inefficiencies compounded the picture: customs delays, high logistics costs, and administrative complexity emerged consistently across all four sectors. The most impactful reform agenda would address tariff-level barriers and the regulatory environment simultaneously.
The Outcome
The collective voice of EU industry in India that shaped EU-India Trade negotiations.
Systemic barriers clearly articulated
High tariffs, complex tax regimes, regulatory inconsistencies, and licensing complexity identified and documented as major deterrents to EU investment in India.
Operational inefficiencies evidenced
Customs delays, high logistics costs, and administrative complexity documented at the company level, giving negotiators concrete evidence rather than general assertions.
14+ policy recommendations
Across tariff simplification, mutual recognition of standards, streamlined regulatory processes, and improved investment protection mechanisms.
Direct input to EU–India negotiations
An evidence-based foundation for trade agreement discussions, strengthening the case for both bilateral cooperation and domestic reforms on the Indian side.
Download as PDF
Save or print this case study for offline reading