India, Gulf bloc discuss next steps on free trade agreement
The meeting assumes significance as India and the GCC resumed negotiations in February for a comprehensive trade agreement aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment, even though the talks were temporarily stalled in June because of the West Asia crisis
India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held talks in Riyadh on Sunday (August 23, 2026) to discuss the next steps in a proposed free trade agreement (FTA). The discussions were led by India's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Vipul, and the GCC secretary general, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. During the meeting, both sides reviewed preparations for a Ministerial meeting scheduled for the following month.
The GCC, consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, is India's largest trading partner bloc. In 2024-25, bilateral trade between India and the GCC reached $178.56 billion, with Indian exports valued at $56.87 billion and imports at $121.68 billion. The GCC also serves as a significant investor source for India, with investments surpassing $31.14 billion as of September 2025.
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